Keep me close if you will

 
I never saved anything for myself, nothing kept aside,
carelessly today I've given it all, whatever I had.


If you ask for more, a little further...how much further do you want?
If you seek more sweetness, take as much as you will.


Now if I too voice some entreaty,
will you keep it, tell me?
If I say, never scold me before others,
however wrong I may be, scold me later, in private—will you honor this?
If I say, whatever complaints or grievances you have,
however much anger you hold against me,
we have our little room, we have four walls—
trap it all there, and scold me to your heart's content?
Tell me everything, all my wrongs?
But don't diminish me before others...will you keep this much?
If I say, whatever faults I have,
only you deserve to judge those faults!
Whatever mistakes are mine,
to collect the price of those mistakes,
I'm willing to fall at your feet!
Just tell me, no one else will know?


However much I am yours,
however well you know me,
promise you won't strip away even a particle of that?
If I say, if you wish, bind me and wound me,
but never scold me beyond these four walls,
will you keep that word?


If you wish, wound this heart as much as you desire!
If I say, bind me with the same tenderness
with which you hide me in love, in just that way
discipline me as you please, only keeping it hidden?


If you wish, scold me however you like,
if you wish, wound me however you like,
if you wish, say whatever comes to mind,
if you wish, defeat me every moment, with cause or without,
but never hurl shame at me in front of others.
Will you grant this plea, tell me?


Whatever incompleteness I have, learn it all by seeking,
whatever good or bad I am, keep account of it all,
whatever mountains of mistakes I've made, correct them as you please!
Whatever exists between you and me, only between us two,
whatever belongs only to us, I beg you,
don't sell it cheap to strangers!
I long to live with you till death, such yearning in my heart!
Just don't forget these entreaties! Will you remember?