ABSOLVO TE

I read your truth. You read — What did you read?

Did you read all, and, reading all, forgive?

How I — O little dwarf of conscience sieve

My soul; bare all before her bare indeed!

And, looking on the remnant and the waste,

Can you absolve me,— me, the doubter, one

Who challenged what God spent His genius on,

His genius and His pride; so fair, so chaste?

I am ashamed.... And when I told my dreams,

Shaken and humble,— “Dear, there was no cause,”

Your words; proud, sorrowful, as it beseems

Such as thou art. There never was a cause

Why you should honour me. Ashamed am I.

And you forgive me, bless me, for reply.