It's No Sin To Hope Hold my head up dear With imperfect, open hands, Dry my eyes again With fingers that don't recoil At the thought of All I've done. Dust me down, Straighten my collar and Frock coat, sully those White gloves, Make me feel righteous Even though I'm far below Anyone's standard. You know what I am; More monster than man, A sin, alive and bleeding, A soul not worth redeeming, A coward who won't take The coward's way out, I've been told a hundred times I'm something foul, And I'm starting to believe it. So I'll drink a cup of malice Drawn from my own Overflowing self-hatred And spit poisonous words Throw inglorious snide looks, Until I'm hated for who I am Rather than what. And I'll be alone, always, Even when I'm loved in secret I'm still shunned, A whisper of something unseemly That goes on beneath the Deep of dark In back rooms with double Bolted and locked doors. Except for you, you care not What I lack or if I'm lost, You love without condition, With your kind hands And open arms And eyes That never judge. I hope to love and you taught me It's no sin to hope.