When I was still a child <br />I thought my love would be <br />Noble, truthful, brave, <br />And very kind to me. <br />Then all the novels said <br />That if my lover prove <br />No such man as this <br />He had to forfeit love. <br />Now I know life holds <br />Harder tasks in store. <br />If my lover fail <br />I must love him more. <br />Should he prove unkind, <br />What am I, that he <br />Squander soul and strength <br />Smoothing life for me? <br />Weak or false or cruel <br />Love must still be strong. <br />All my life I'll learn <br />How to love as long.<br /><br />Lesbia Harford<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/when-i-was-still-a-child/
