Reserve

Guiney, Louise Imogen (1861 - 1920)

1You that are dear, O you above the rest!

2Forgive him his evasive moods and cold;

3The absence that belied him oft of old,

4The war upon sad speech, the desperate jest,

5And pity’s wildest gush but half-confessed,

6Forgive him! Let your gentle memories hold

7Some written word once tender and once bold,

8Or service done shamefacedly at best,

9Whereby to judge him. All his days he spent,

10Like one who with an angel wrestled well,

11O’ermastering Love with show of light disdain;

12And whatso’er your spirits underwent,

13He, wounded for you, worked no miracle

14To make his heart’s allegiance wholly plain.

Publication Notes

Guiney, Louise Imogen, Songs at the Start (Boston: Cupples, Upham and Company, 1884): 36. PS 1767 S6 Robarts Library

RPO poem Editors

Ian Lancashire