James Brunton Stephens

Here you will find the Poem Had I But Known of poet James Brunton Stephens

Had I But Known

I loved thee! Ah, those vows of love,
So fondly made, so soon unmade!
I trusted thee all men above?
Ah, fatal trust, so soon betrayed.
A dream that wore the face of truth
Was what I loved. The dream has flown.
All, all I've lost, faith, hope and love,
Had I but known! Had I but known!

Thou weepest. Would that I could shed
A tear for either joy or grief!
But from the heart grown cold and dead
There springs no fountain of relief.
Now all my life is tearless pain,
My hope forgetfulness alone,
And all my speech the one refrain?
Had I but known! Had I but known!