If you must love me
"If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
I love her for her smile ... her look ... her way
Of speaking gently, ... for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day'—
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee,—and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,—
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou may'st love on, through love's eternity."
If you must love me
By my smile that would erase
Every stroke of pain,
Every scar of hate,
Encraved within your heart,
If it were to be taken away
By time, would you love me then?
If you must love me,
For my gentle way of speaking,
For the softness of my voice
That gives you an ease,
Through hardship,
A warmth you receive, free comfort,
As if it were the sea
That extinguished your fire,
Would you love me, then,
If time were to take it slowly,
Away from me, growing thorns,
Coiling it into something,
I could no longer sing with,
I could not longer put you to ease,
I could no longer put you to warmth,
Beloved, would you still love me?
If you must love me, then,
For my eyes that glitter with love,
At the sight of you,
And you would would drown yourself
Within, in the world I hold,
If time were too cruel, to take it all,
And if it could no longer
Give you my love, show you my love,
Would you still love me then?
If you must love me,
For the scars I need healing,
And your lips will trace each line
Of sorrow, of pain,
A soft caress seemingly soothing,
And if were to completely heal,
If time were too kind,
And no longer need a remedy,
Would you still love?
If you must love me,
For my tears that roll down my skin,
And you softly whisper,
"You're too precious to cry,
Your tears bring the wilting flowers
The strength to revive,"
If I were to forever be with you,
And if I were to forever smile,
And if I were to forever laugh,
And never to feel sorrow,
Beloved, will you still give me your love?
If you must love me,
Love me by my love,
Which is promised for eternity,
And never to fall,
As time would take its course,
And the world would never ease,
Love me for I love you, beloved,
For it shall then never fade.
_____________________________________
Inspired by the poet, Elizabeth Barett Browning, who wrote a poem about Robert Browning's love, in the Sonnet 14,
"If thou must love me"
published ~1845