If You But Knew... Poem by Denis Martindale

If You But Knew...



If you but knew my love for you,
The heartbreak that it brings,
To comprehend my point of view,
The sorrows and the stings,
Of unrequited love's demise,
The essence of my pain,
For sure, you'd look into my eyes,
Yet would you look again?

Or would such love be never kissed,
Caressed in sweet embrace,
Such that, though true, it was dismissed,
All memories to erase?
And would you run towards me or
Just turn and run away?
No wonder that I hold in store
The words I yearn to say...

Yet please continue, fancy-free,
A dove upon the air,
Regardless of my poetry
And thoughts beyond compare...
To dally forth, without regard,
For all I'd choose to know,
Yes, loving you seems oh, so hard,
That's why I let you go...

Love's burden shouldn't crush the heart,
Nor strive within one's soul,
Nor tear the mind to stretch that part
That's meant for self-control...
Nor cause the belly butterflies,
Nor make one's knees to shake,
Nor cause such folly to the wise,
As if love's some mistake...

Yet I'll not yield to give up love,
I merely give up you,
For all I've felt proved quite enough
To do what I must do...
Farewell, my lovely, live your life,
I'll not stand in your way,
Proceed to be another's wife,
While I, at home, must stay...


Denis Martindale May 2016.

If You But Knew...
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Topic(s) of this poem: unrequited love
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