Impressions: A Book of Verse/Exile: Her Spoken Thought

by Lilla Cabot Perry

 

EXILE: HER SPOKEN THOUGHT

IF I said "Hopeless love was never found"
'T was that I vainly strove my heart to cheer
And struggled to forget the trembling fear
Which shook me, when my heart with sudden bound
Heard a new sweetness thrilling in the sound
Of my friend's voice knelling our parting drear,—
Since friendship turned to love would cost him dear.

A woman and unloved, a queen discrowned,
I'll seek a joyless exile for his sake.
Let me go forth from that fair province where
So late I ruled serene, nor knew the ache
Of love in banishment. Love fed on air
Consumes in pain. His love I must not take.
My joy too dearly bought by his despair!