Christina Georgina Rossetti



                   "No, Thank You, John."


                   I never said I loved you, John:
                   Why will you teaze me day by day,
                   And wax a weariness to think upon
                   With 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 wan
                   As shows an hour-old ghost?

                   I dare say Meg or Moll would take
                   Pity upon you, if you'd ask:
                   And pray don't remain single for my sake
                   Who can't perform that task.
                   I have no heart? — Perhaps I have not;
                   But then you're mad to take offence
                   That 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 Johns
                   Than 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 above
                   Quibbles and shuffling off and on:
                   Here's friendship for you if you like; but love, —
                   No, thank you, John.


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