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...AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM by RICHARD ALDINGTON THE QUALITY OF COURAGE by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET TO KNOW IN REVERIE THE ONLY PHENOMENOLOGY OF THE ABSOLUTE by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE SACRAL DREAMS OF RAMON FERNANDEZ by JAMES GALVIN THE BLACK MONKEY by KATHERINE MANSFIELD |