And rob the sun my daylight to prolong,
And rob the night of sleep while others wake,—
Feast on their famine, basely free to take.
I would be free! Free in a dearer way,
Free to become all that I may or can;
To be my best and utmost self each day,
Not held or bound by any chain of man,
By dull convention, or by foolish sneer,
Or love’s mistaken clasp of feeble fear.
Free to be kind and true and faithful; free