To my enemy...

Let those who will of friendship sing,

And to its guerdon grateful be,

But I a lyric garland bring

To crown thee, O, mine enemy!

Thanks, endless thanks, to thee I owe

For that my lifelong journey through

Thine honest hate has done for me

What love perchance had failed to do.

I had not scaled such weary heights

But that I held thy scorn in fear,

And never keenest lure might match

The subtle goading of thy sneer.

Thine anger struck from me a fire

That purged all dull content away,

Our mortal strife to me has been

Unflagging spur from day to day.

And thus, while all the world may

laud The gifts of love and loyalty,

I lay my meed of gratitude Before

thy feet, mine enemy!

Lucy Maud Montgomery