No, thank you, John
Christina Rossetti’s poem “No, Thank You, John” was published in 1862 in her first collection of verse, “Goblin Market and Other Poems”.
Christina Georgina Rossetti was born on 5 December 1830 in London, England, and she died on 29 December 1894 in London, England, at the age of 64.Rossetti was an English writer of romantic, devotional and children’s poems, including “Goblin Market” and “Remember”. She also wrote the words of two Christmas carols well known in Britain: “In the Bleak Midwinter” and “Love Came Down at Christmas”. She was a sister of the artist and poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti and features in several of his paintings.
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I never said I loved you, John: Why will you tease me, day by day, And wax a weariness to think upon With always “do” and “pray”?
You know I never loved you, John; No fault of mine made me your toast: Why will you haunt me with a face as wan As shows an hour-old ghost?
I dare say Meg or Moll would take Pity upon you, if you’d ask: And pray don’t remain single for my sake Who can’t perform that task.
I have no heart? — Perhaps I have not; But then you’re mad to take offence That I don’t give you what I have not got: Use your own common sense.
Let bygones be bygones: Don’t call me false, who owed not to be true: I’d rather answer “No” to fifty Johns Than answer “Yes” to you.
Let’s mar our pleasant days no more, Song-birds of passage, days of youth: Catch at to-day, forget the days before: I’ll wink at your untruth.
Let us strike hands as hearty friends; No more, no less: and friendship’s good: Only don’t keep in view ulterior ends, And points not understood
In open treaty. Rise above Quibbles and shuffling off and on: Here’s friendship for you if you like; but love, — No, thank you, John.