What Right Have I

What right have I?

You are not mine

Nor will you ever be

I need not try

To read your sign

You don’t belong to me

I should not care

How you behave

What difference does it make?

Perhaps someday

You will grow brave

And from this sleep awake

But when you do

It will not then

Be caused by what I say

But by one who

Like other men

Holds you within her sway

And as I claim

No place within

The life you choose to live

I’ll stay the same

As I have been

And all your faults forgive

Perhaps I own

The privileged place

For worry I need not

I may condone

Reprove with grace

And still remain unfraught

With jealousies

And petty cares

And all that love demands

So as you please

I’ll save my prayers

And better use my hands

But why all this?

As I have said

It matters not to me

What right have I?

You are not mine

Nor will you ever be