O lover-teacher

[joel]

O lover-teacher, be my sage; and grace
me with such servitude as serves your love,
as recompense removes— and listen please
to even forced humility because
I ask as now my foremost love is mine,
turns inward, edifies my need to love—
and love that first depends on me seems less
than love. I hope to love as I confess
to love you— not of optimism, of
but hope alone. Oh be yourself your cause;
and hear through my enforced humilities
an honest plea for humblest freedom of
religion: selfish love for faith replace.