A Sheep's Reply to the Shepherd

With every sweetness from Thy lips
Every glory inside it keeps
Promised me by Thy own sweet love
Yet kept tales of Thy suff'ring heart.

Thou spake of fields green and flowing
And to lead me each May morning.
Rest beyond thought to me Thou said
To refreshing springs I am led.

But I long to hear what's behind
The true reason of love so kind.
Thy blood: shed to open to me
Gates of joy, heavenly glory.

This, I long to hear to love Thee,
Not for reward or prize for me.
Enough to know my Shepherd gave
All He had: His life, for me, laid.

For this I'll love Thee, faithful Guide
Not just for promises of might.
Life offered for lost sheep like me
Is love, of greatest kind, from Thee.

Originally written in 1997, with some revision made.  Inspired by an earlier work in 1996, "Another Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd", on the subject English and American Literature, in response to "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" by Christopher Marlowe and "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd" by Sir Walter Raleigh