About Love

Philip Bourke Marston

1850 to 1887

Poem Image

Come now, I will be frank with you, and say 
I have for you a strange and bitter love: 
Most strong it is, but no love's strong enough 
From higher aims to make me turn away; 
Some short sharp pain, some idle night or day, 
Is all the hurt that I shall have thereof. 
I will not wed you, and I must remove 
Your spell from off my path as best I may. 

Your face would come between my work and me; 
Your love would quite unnerve me for the strife; 
Kiss me, forget me wholly, as I know 
I shall forget you in the whirl of life: 
Nay, do not look; I swear I will not see; 
Take off your lips lest I should crush you so.