Classic Poem

I said to her, " I love you, I love you, I love you; "
And she could only answer, " That's very kind of you. "
Something she did I hated; but we were lovers mated,
And I, remembering this, declared, " Sweetheart, I do love you. "

Then feeling deadly lonely, I said, " I love you only,
And nobody else could ever be what you have been to me. "
She answered, " That's so kind of you, it's p'raps a little blind of you. "
And I felt like a dragon-fly instead of a honey-bee.

Then I grew dull and broody, I felt so glum and moody,
Everything I wanted to do seemed like a thing forbid;
Till just to keep my reason, I said, " Give ear to treason:
This is the truth. I lied to you. I hated what you did. "

" Did you? " she said, " my dearest, then you become my nearest,
For I have often hated you, but yet I love you so;
And when you tried to love me, you hoped to soar above me,
But now you tell me clearly you love and hate me dearly,
You are my love, not merely a walking shadow-show. "