A Dreadful Promise Never Spoken

That you should have noticed long ago

How my eyes were wandering in search of you,

Oh, and that you knew all along, and never showed

Hardly have I considered this thought true!

Alas, my love, that you should have hated me

And that your thoughts were not like mine

And so long unaware, how could I not be?

That your eyes so doubtfully feigned!

Why - you never said a word, how could you speak

When nothing but promises were left to keep

That you should have seen me so weak,

And I had thought you would weep!

That my love had never been shared

This thought seldom passed my head

That your love had never been prepared

This I know neither of us said.

Oh, my dear, how happy I would be

To hear that your love had always been the same

Even then, how real my dreams would seem

And so far from this strange shame!

But no promise has been made - how can it be kept?

You have never; and perhaps won't,

Because, the way I've been once left

Never changes; and you as well don't.