I loved you first: but afterwards your love,
...Outsoaring mine, sang such a loftier song
As drowned the friendly cooings of my dove.
...Which owes the other most? My love was long,
...And yours one moment seemed to wax more strong;
I loved and guessed at you, you contrued me
And loved me for what might or might not be--
...Nay, weights and measures do us both a wrong.
For verily love knows not 'mine' or 'thine';
With separate 'I' and 'thou' free love has done,
...For one is both and both are one in love:
Rich love knows nought of 'thine that is not mine';
...Both have the strength and both the length thereof,
Both of us, of the love which makes us one.
Christina Rossetti
