I
You say you love; but with a voice
Chaster than a nun’s, who singeth
The soft vespers to herself
While the chime-bell ringeth —
O love me truly!
II
You say you love; but with a smile
Cold as sunrise in September,
As you were Saint Cupid’s nun,
And kept his weeks of Ember.
O love me truly!
III
You say you love; but then your lips
Coral tinted teach no blisses,
More than coral in the sea —
They never pout for kisses —
O love me truly!
IV
You say you love; but then your hand
No soft squeeze for squeeze returneth;
It is like a statue’s, dead, —
While mine for passion burneth —
O love me truly!
V
O breathe a word or two of fire!
Smile, as if those words should burn me,
Squeeze as lovers should — O kiss
And in thy heart inurn me!
O love me truly!
"You say you love, but with a voice" read by Steven Brown. Courtesy Ezra Welser.
A desire to be loved... love unreciprocated. Thoughts: there are some who do not feel or know love. 'Spose love is felt and/or inspired. Magnetism comes to mind... or a spark, electricity... happens to happen. This poem presents several possibilities: refrain; Roman numerals denoting each stanza telling another version of "You say you love; but..." The passionate, "I love you truly!" being reiterated at the end of each stanza. "... in thy heart inurn me!" Place me, incase me, entomb me, bury me in your heart forever more. 💟💟💟💟💟💟
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