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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  879. Renouncement

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

Alice Meynell. b. 1850

879. Renouncement

I MUST not think of thee; and, tired yet strong, 
  I shun the love that lurks in all delight— 
  The love of thee—and in the blue heaven’s height, 
And in the dearest passage of a song. 
Oh, just beyond the sweetest thoughts that throng         5
  This breast, the thought of thee waits hidden yet bright; 
  But it must never, never come in sight; 
I must stop short of thee the whole day long. 
But when sleep comes to close each difficult day, 
  When night gives pause to the long watch I keep,  10
And all my bonds I needs must loose apart, 
Must doff my will as raiment laid away,— 
  With the first dream that comes with the first sleep 
I run, I run, I am gather’d to thy heart.