Edna St. Vincent Millay: The Betrothal

Oh, come, my lad, or go, my lad, 

   And love me if you like! 

I hardly hear the door shut 

   Or the knocker strike. 



Oh, bring me gifts or beg me gifts, 

   And wed me if you will! 

I'd make a man a good wife, 

   Sensible and still. 



And why should I be cold, my lad, 

   And why should you repine, 

Because I love a dark head 

   That never will be mine? 



I might as well be easing you 

   As lie alone in bed 

And waste the night in wanting 

   A cruel dark head! 



You might as well be calling yours 

   What never will be his, 

And one of us be happy; 

   There's few enough as is.

Public Domain