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1880–1943

IF

Radclyffe Hall

If all the words you spoke, dear, Were every one untrue, There can be nothing good, dear, In earth, or sun, or dew;

And all the world's a lie, dear, Because of you. If all the smiles you gave, dear, Were only to beguile,

Why then there's nothing sweet, dear, In any human smile; And what we deem most fair, dear, Is only vile.

If every kiss that lingered Upon the lips you pressed, Was but an empty token, More fickle than the rest;

I wish that I had died, dear, For death were best.

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IF · Radclyffe Hall · Poetry Cove