Goblin Market and Other Poems (1862)/"No Thank You, John"

by Christina Georgina Rossetti

"NO THANK YOU, JOHN."

I never said I loved you, John:Why will you tease me day by day,And wax a weariness to think uponWith always "do" and "pray"?

You know I never loved you, John;No fault of mine made me your toast:Why will you haunt me with a face as wanAs shows an hour-old ghost?

I dare say Meg or Moll would takePity upon you, if you'd ask:And pray don't remain single for my sakeWho can't perform that task.

I have no heart?—Perhaps I have not;But then you're mad to take offenceThat I don't give you what I have not got:Use your own common sense.

Let bygones be bygones:Don't call me false, who owed not to be true:I'd rather answer "No" to fifty JohnsThan answer "Yes" to you.

Let's mar our pleasant days no more,Song-birds of passage, days of youth:Catch at today, forget the days before;I'll wink at your untruth.

Let us strike hands as hearty friends;No more, no less; and friendship's good:Only don't keep in view ulterior ends,And points not understood

In open treaty. Rise aboveQuibbles and shuffling off and on:Here's friendship for you if you like; but love,—No, thank you, John.