I knew when I said
I love you
that I was inventing a new alphabet
for a city where no one could read
that I was saying my poems
in an empty theater
and pouring my wine
for those who could not

I kissed them in fancy as I came
Away in the morning glow:
I kissed them through the glass of her picture-frame:
She did not know.

I kissed them in love, in troth, in laughter,
When she knew all; long so!
That I should kiss them in a shroud thereafter
She did not know.

I heard a linnet courting
His lady in the spring:
His mates were idly sporting,
Nor stayed to hear him sing
His song of love.--
I fear my speech distorting
His tender love.

The phrases of his pleading
Were full of young delight;

And she that gave him heeding
Interpreted aright
His gay, sweet notes,--
So sadly marred in the reading,--
His tender notes.

And when he ceased, the hearer
Awaited the refrain,
Till swiftly perching nearer
He sang his song again,
His pretty song:--

I have loved flowers that fade,
Within whose magic tents
Rich hues have marriage made
With sweet unmemoried scents:
A honeymoon delight, —
A joy of love at sight,
That ages in an hour: —
My song be like a flower!

I have loved airs, that die
Before their charm is writ
Along a liquid sky
Trembling to welcome it.
Notes, that with pulse of fire
Proclaim the spirit's desire,
Then die, and are nowhere: —
My song be like an air!

Die, song, die like a breath,
And wither as a bloom:
Fear not a flowery death,

I have a love is Heven-King;
 I love His love for evermore.

For love is love and ever shall be,
 And love has been or we were bore;
For love He askes non other fee
 But love again; He kepes no more.
  I say herefore: I have, etc.

Trew love is tresoure, trust is store
 To a love to Godes plesing;
But lewde love makes men y-lore,
 To love here lust and here liking.
  I say herefore: I have, etc.

In good love there is no sin;
 Without love is heviness:
Herfore to love I n'il not blin,
 To love my God and His goodness.

I have a jolly shilling, a lovely jolly shilling,
I love my jolly shilling as I do love my life;
I've a penny for to spend, another for to lend,
And a jolly, jolly tenpence to carry home to my wife.

There's neither pints nor quarts shall grieve me,
Nor this wide world shall deceive me,
But bring me to the girl that will keep me
While I go rambling about.

I have a jolly tenpence, a lovely jolly tenpence,
I love my jolly tenpence as I do love my life;
I've a penny for to spend, another for to lend,

I dug, beneath the cypress shade,
What well might seen an elfin's grave;
And every pledge in earth I laid,
That erst thy false affection gave.

I pressed them down the sod beneath;
I placed one mossy stone above;
And twined the rose's fading wreath
Around the sepulchre of love.

Frail as thy love, the flowers were dead,
Ere yet the evening sun was set:
But years shall see the cypress spread,
Immutable as my regret.

1

I dreamed last night of my true love.
All in my arms I had her;
Her pretty yeller hair like strands of gold,
Lay dangling round my piller.

2

I waked in the morning and found her not.
I was forced to do without her;
I went unto her uncle's house,
Inquiring for this lady.

3

He said that she was not there,
And neither would he keep her.
I turned around to go away,
My love she come to the winder.

4

She said that she would come to me,
If doors nor locks did not hinder.

I do not love thee, Doctor Fell,
The reason why I cannot tell,
But this one thing I know full well:
I do not love thee, Doctor Fell.

I do not look for love that is a dream:
I only seek for courage to be still;
To bear my grief with an unbending will,
And when I am a-weary not to seem.
Let the round world roll on; let the sun beam;
Let the wind blow, and let the rivers fill
The everlasting sea; and on the hill
The palms almost touch heaven, as children deem.
And though young Spring and Summer pass away,
And Autumn and cold Winter come again;
And though my soul, being tired of its pain,
Pass from the ancient earth; and though my clay