For What You Are
I love you not only for what you are
But for what I am when I am with you.
I love you not only for what you have made of yourself,
But for what you are making of me.
I love you for closing your ears to the discords in me
And for adding to the music in and by your listening.
I love you because you are helping me
To make of myself
Not a tavern but a temple life.
And of my every day words,
Not a reproach but a song.
I love you because you have done
More than any creed could have done
To make me good and more than any touch
Could have done to make me happy.
You have done it without a word,
Without a sign, without a touch.
You have done it just by being yourself,
And perhaps that is what love means after all.
Dorothy Smith
1934
For What You Are
I love you not only for what you are But for what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, But for what you are making of me.
I love you for closing your ears to the discords in me And for adding to the music in and by your listening.
I love you because you are helping me To make of myself Not a tavern but a temple life. And of my every day words, Not a reproach but a song.
I love you because you have done More than any creed could have done To make me good and more than any touch Could have done to make me happy.
You have done it without a word, Without a sign, without a touch. You have done it just by being yourself, And perhaps that is what love means after all.
Dorothy Smith 1934