The Better Man

I love you.

Because you are not afraid

To speak,
To feel,
To suffer,
To look foolish.

I love you because you are not afraid to love me.

Others are.
And they may be
More refined,
More learned,
And more admired men than you.

But they are dwarfed by your manly shadow,
Because they are afraid;
Afraid to come into the light,
Afraid to love.

But the sun shines full upon your goodness,
Because you have the courage to love me.
And you are the better man.