Friday, July 10, 2020

JOHN KEATS
“You say you love; but with a voice”
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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!

   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!

   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!

   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!

   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!

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