To A Young Lady From A Position of Hopeless Disadvantage.

My dear, I cannot say to you
The things you well may wish me to;
Each tender moment's long delay
More diminishes my say
Till, lacking an ungentle shove
I judge myself quite out of love.

Yet when I see you once again
Shall I evaluate you then ?
I'll see you coming up the stairs
Cry out while you are unawares
And twinkling by, smile up beneath,
An overcoat with flashing teeth.

Or if (ah rapture!) I should be
Committed inescapably
To speech with you, my heart will phrase
Its meaning many urgent ways
Till turbulent and careless I
Shall pass some judgement on the sky.

How promising to conversation
Your pause, and kindly provocation!
How sweetly spoken, finely made!
Then by my tongue and lips betrayed
I fulminate distractedly ...

My dear, you are .... disturbing me.

- John Gamby.