Bear with the demanding lady. She may surprise you in the end. The sonnet is one from a spirited sequence of 50 charting the course (love and loss, naturally) of a relationship. Born in 1969, Eleanor Brown is English but grew up in Scotland. Her debut collection, Maiden Speech, is published by Bloodaxe at #6.95.
SONNET XI
By Eleanor Brown
Tell me I'm beautiful, and bring me flowers.
Tell me I'm fascinating, and you've never
met anyone so witty or so clever.
Worship me; sit and think of me for hours;
speak the language of idolatry.
Go off your food. Fall sick. Have sleepless nights.
Resign your freedom, and all other rights.
Be bored without me. Write me poetry.
Don't notice other women; or compare
them with me, in my favour, if you do.
Earnestly tell me I'm too good for you.
Tell me you love me. Love me. Tell me there
is nothing you would not do for my sake.
These, and other demands, I do not make.
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