I Love Him Wisely
Title
I Love Him Wisely
Creator
John Gambril Nicholson
Date
1896
Text
I love him wisely if I love him well,
And so I let him keep his innocence
I veil my adoration with pretence
Since he knows nothing of Love's mystic spell;
I dare not for his sake my passion tell
Though strong desire upbraid my diffidence; --
To buy my happiness at his expense
Were folly blind and loss unspeakable.
Suspicious of my simplest acts I grow;
I doubt my passing words, however brief;
I catch his glances feeling like a thief.
Perchance he wonders why I shun him so, --
It would be strange indeed if he should know
I love him, love him, love him past belief!
(Note: lines 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 14 should be indented, but the HTML was not working correctly)
And so I let him keep his innocence
I veil my adoration with pretence
Since he knows nothing of Love's mystic spell;
I dare not for his sake my passion tell
Though strong desire upbraid my diffidence; --
To buy my happiness at his expense
Were folly blind and loss unspeakable.
Suspicious of my simplest acts I grow;
I doubt my passing words, however brief;
I catch his glances feeling like a thief.
Perchance he wonders why I shun him so, --
It would be strange indeed if he should know
I love him, love him, love him past belief!
(Note: lines 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 14 should be indented, but the HTML was not working correctly)
Citation
John Gambril Nicholson, “I Love Him Wisely,” Victorian Queer Archive, accessed April 24, 2024, https://victorianqueerarchive.omeka.net/items/show/24.