When your love begins to wane,
Spare me from the cruel pain
Of all speech that tells me so –
Spare me words, for I shall know,
By the half-averted eyes,
By the breast that no more sighs
By the rapture I shall miss
From your strangely-altered kiss;
By the arms that still enfold
But have lost their clinging hold,
And, too willing, let me go,
I shall know, love, I shall know.
Bitter will the knowledge be,
Bitterer than death to me.
Yet, ’twill come to me some day,
For it is sad world’s way.
Make no vows – vows cannot bind
Changing hearts of wayward mind.
Men grow weary of a bliss
Passionate and fond as this.
Love will wane. But I shall know,
If you do not tell me so.
Know it, tho’ you smile and say,
That you love me more each day.
Know it by the inner sight
That forever sees aright.
Words could not but increase my woe,
And without them, I shall know.
(Ella Wheeler Wilcox)
More Poetry from Ella Wheeler Wilcox:
Ella Wheeler Wilcox Poems based on Topics: Love, Man, Mind, Happiness, Wisdom & Knowledge, Kiss- A Fatal Impress (Ella Wheeler Wilcox Poems)
- A Baby In The House (Ella Wheeler Wilcox Poems)
- It Might Have Been (Ella Wheeler Wilcox Poems)
- A Fallen Leaf (Ella Wheeler Wilcox Poems)
- Custer: Book Second (Ella Wheeler Wilcox Poems)
- Custer: Book Third (Ella Wheeler Wilcox Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Love Poems, Man Poems, Mind Poems, Happiness Poems, Wisdom & Knowledge Poems, Kiss PoemsBased on Keywords: bitterer, half-averted
- The Helot (Isabella Valancy Crawford Poems)
- The Believer's Soliloquy; Especially in Times of Desertion, Temptation, Affliction (Ralph Erskine Poems)
- The School-Boy (Oliver Wendell Holmes Poems)
- The School Of The Heart. Lesson The First (Henry Alford Poems)
- The Three Gossips' Wager (Jean de La Fontaine Poems)