Early Poems: To Anne

Oh, Anne, your offences to me have been grievous:

I thought from my wrath no atonement could save you;

But Woman is made to command and deceive us -

I look'd in your face, and I almost forgave you.

I vow'd I could ne'er for a moment respect you,

Yet thought that a day's separation was long;

When we met, I determined again to suspect you -

Your smile soon convinced me 'suspicion' was wrong.

I swore, in a transport of young indignation,

With fervent contempt evermore to disdain you:

I saw you - my 'anger' became 'admiration';

And now, all my wish, all my hope's to regain you.

With beauty like yours, oh, how vain the contention!

Thus lowly I sue for forgiveness before you; -

At once to conclude such a fruitless dissension,

Be false, my sweet Anne, when I cease to adore you!

January 16, 1807. First published, 1832.

Footnote 1: Miss Anne Houson.

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