Ask not why I forbid you so

and flowers gently shade;

it's not for lack of my own love

your tender love's forbade.

I am not deaf to songs and sweet

love poems you swear to mean,

But loves as this I've seen before,

and they were not long seen.

These coils of self are not entwined

to keep your loving bare,

but only so to keep me safe

when love's no loner there.

For I would give the world to you

as long as life does live,

and pour in turn an endless love

had I the love to give.