Alas, my love, thou surely hast done wrong,
How quickly thou didst throw my love aside.
What other voice has lulled thee with her song,
What other eyes a-batting hast thou spied,
Whose promise broke the stronghold where you'd hide,
While we so barely made our sure escape
From hurts of old, as this heart opened wide,
Revealing now the sorrow that I drape
Over the anger, straining now to take its vengeful shape?

Alas, my love, you surely played me well.
I leaped into thine arms without a care,
I fell bewitched by this thy lover's spell,
Without a thought of warning to beware.
And all the while, sweet secrets didst I share.
Goodbye, my love, I know not whenst I'll be
Secure enough another love to bear.
For all I am, for all I let you see
Was wrapped up in the love that I so freely gave to thee.

Hark, how the tune of pity falls amiss
Upon the deadened ears of my sad heart.
Come see the drying tears and crusting kiss
And know thine evil manner hast a part.
Play on, my love, this game that thou didst start,
Play out thy teasing deeds unto the end.
Show in thy playing whom thou truly art,
O lying lover and beguiling friend,
And then reclaim the moments of sheer passion we did spend.


copyright (c) JMStevens, 2002

This is my first attempt to compose a Spenserian poem (with a slight variation). Although traditionally the ninth lines were written with one extra foot, I chose to add two.