She Sayeth "No."

She sayeth "No" - my lady fair-

And lightly laughs at my despair.

   She quick evades my least caress,

   Nor grants to me a single tress

From out her wealth of golden hair.

Yet to her cheeks creeps crimson rare,

When I for her my love declare.

   But while her blue eyes tell me "Yes,"

She sayeth "No."

The maid well knows I would not dare

Try to escape her gentle snare.

   And, if I really must confess,

   I own I trust her lips far less

Than her blue eyes beyond compare.

She sayeth "No."

Bertrand A. Smalley

Index to poems in the collection by Bertrand A. Smalley