The Bravery of Love

William Stafford

If I should have that bravery of gaining love
I would hold this hand out, level, warm,
for the buffeted snowbound little birds to come
and feed for all the years unharmed,
if I should have that bravery of love.

There are many fields where few birds come,
through solitary storms on level land,
without a creature save the hawks that rend,
where scarecrows wait holding an equal hand
out for the little birds to come.

But through a night so parallel with snow
I hold my hand out, steady - so.

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