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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  692. I do not love Thee

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Norton. 1808–1876

692. I do not love Thee

I DO not love thee!—no! I do not love thee! 
And yet when thou art absent I am sad; 
  And envy even the bright blue sky above thee, 
Whose quiet stars may see thee and be glad. 
 
  I do not love thee!—yet, I know not why,         5
Whate’er thou dost seems still well done, to me: 
  And often in my solitude I sigh 
That those I do love are not more like thee! 
 
  I do not love thee!—yet, when thou art gone, 
I hate the sound (though those who speak be dear)  10
  Which breaks the lingering echo of the tone 
Thy voice of music leaves upon my ear. 
 
  I do not love thee!—yet thy speaking eyes, 
With their deep, bright, and most expressive blue, 
  Between me and the midnight heaven arise,  15
Oftener than any eyes I ever knew. 
 
  I know I do not love thee! yet, alas! 
Others will scarcely trust my candid heart; 
  And oft I catch them smiling as they pass, 
Because they see me gazing where thou art.  20