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Let Me But Love
To truly love someone means allowing them to know us as we really are. We all have strengths and weaknesses, good qualities and faults, yet real love does not ask us to pretend to be someone we are not.
In Let Me But Love, Henry VanDyke writes about this kind of honest love. He expresses the desire to love without disguise, to be true to himself, and to be completely known and still forgiven. His words remind us that love grows stronger when two people can be open with each other and accept both the best and the imperfect parts of one another.
This beautiful love poem is fitting for Valentine's Day, an anniversary, or simply as a reminder of what a loving relationship can be. VanDyke's verses encourage us to love sincerely, forgive freely, and appreciate the person we love for who they truly are.
Updated September 25, 2026, by Catherine Pulsifer.
Let Me But Love
Poet: Henry VanDyke
Let me but love my love without disguise,
Nor wear a mask of fashion old or new,
Nor wait to speak till I can hear a clue,
Nor play a part to shine in others' eyes,
Nor bow my knees to what my heart denies;
But what I am, to that let me be true,
And let me worship where my love is due,
And so through love and worship let me rise.
For love is but the heart's immortal thirst
To be completely known and all forgiven,
Even as sinful souls that enter Heaven:
So take me, dear, and understand my worst,
And freely pardon it, because confessed,
And let me find in loving thee, my best.
Key Reflections In This Poem
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Love Without Pretending
VanDyke encourages us to love without wearing a mask or trying to impress others. Real love gives us the freedom to be honest about who we are.
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Be True To Yourself
A loving relationship should not require us to deny what is in our hearts. Being genuine with another person helps build a stronger and more trusting relationship.
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Love Seeks To Understand
We all have faults as well as strengths. The poem reminds us how meaningful it is to have someone who knows our imperfections and still chooses to love us.
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Forgiveness Is Part Of Love
No relationship is without mistakes or disappointments. Forgiveness allows love to move beyond those imperfections instead of allowing them to define the relationship.
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Love Can Bring Out Our Best
VanDyke ends with the hope that through loving another person he may find his own best qualities. Genuine love can encourage us to grow while still allowing us to be ourselves.
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Conclusion
Henry VanDyke's Let Me But Love reminds us that genuine love does not depend upon pretending to be perfect. It grows when we are able to be honest about who we are and when the person we love can do the same.
Perhaps one of the most meaningful parts of love is knowing that another person sees both our strengths and our faults and continues to care for us. Understanding and forgiveness help create the trust that allows a relationship to grow.
May this poem remind you to love sincerely, forgive generously, and appreciate the person you love for who they truly are. And may the love you share encourage both of you to bring out the best in each other.
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