They flee from me that sometime did me seek With naked foot stalking in my chamber. I have seen them gentle, tame, and meek That now are wild and do not remember That sometime they put themselves in danger To take bread at my hand; and now they range Busily seeking with a continual change. Thanked be fortune if hath been otherwise Twenty times better, but once in special, In thin array after a pleasant guise, When her loose gown from her shoulders did fall And she me caught in her arms long and small, Therewithal sweetly did me kiss And softly said, "Dear heart, how like you this?" It was no dream: I lay broad waking. But all is turned thorough my gentleness Into a strange fashion of forsaking. And I have leave to go of her goodness And she also to use newfangleness. But since that I so kinkly am served I would fain know what she hath deserved. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO MUSIC; A FRAGMENT by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY WITH COLORS GAY by HOWARD S. ABBOTT PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 38. AL-KABIR by EDWIN ARNOLD MARIE MIGNOT by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM PSALM 40. EXPECTANS EXPECTAVI by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE INSCRIPTION IN NETHER STOREY CHURCH IN MEMORY OF RICHARD CAMPLIN by WILLIAM LISLE BOWLES ODE FOR AN AGRICULTURAL CELEBRATION by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT |