IF thou must love me, let it be for nought Except for love's sake only. Do not say 'I love her for her smile -- her look -- her way Of speaking gently, -- for a trick of thought That falls in well with mine, and certes brought A sense of pleasant ease on such a day' -- For these things in themselves, Beloved, may Be changed, or change for thee, -- and love, so wrought, May be unwrought so. Neither love me for Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry, -- A creature might forget to weep, who bore Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby! But love me for love's sake, that evermore Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BLACK COTTAGE by ROBERT FROST AT CANDLE-LIGHTIN' TIME by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR SEVEN TIMES TWO [ - ROMANCE] by JEAN INGELOW UPON WEDLOCK, AND DEATH OF CHILDREN by EDWARD TAYLOR THE JACKDAW OF RHEIMS by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM PSALM 80 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE |