I WOULD not have you so kindly.
1Thus early in friendship's year—
A little too gently, blindly,
1You let me near.
So long as my voice is duly
1Calm as a friend's should be,
In my eyes the hunger unruly
1You will not see.
The eyes that you lift so brightly,
1Frankly to welcome mine—
You bend them again as lightly
1And note no sign.
I had rather your pale cheek reddened
1With the flush of an angry pride:
That a look with disliking deadened
1My look defied;
If so in the spring's full season
1Your glance should soften and fall,
When, reckless with Love's unreason,
1I tell you all.