Poems (Bibesco)/VIII The token

by Elizabeth Bibesco

VIII THE TOKEN

You took my ribbon and you said to me:
"Only belovèd it will ever be
A part of you, a little secret sign
That what is yours is always doubly mine."

I gave my ribbon and you said: "You see
While it was yours it still belonged to me.
Now it is mine, and therefore yours again.
So my beloved you've given it in vain."