A Young Maiden's Sonnet of Love

There was a time in history when women bowed down to men, spoke only when asked a question, and catered to man's every whim. Today times are surely different. Imagine a young maiden in our past history with the mindset of today's woman, who is asked her hand in marriage by a gentleman in society. I offer you her answer.

Dear My Gentleman Love,

I thank thee for asking my father to be your honorable betrothed, my love.

I offer you my answer in the following love sonnet.

If I Loved Thee, My Love

If I loved thee I shall offer you my heart and my soul, my love.

All freely shall I offer these gifts with nothing expected in return.

Though I know you would offer me the same gifts, my love.

Love, faithfulness, and respect, are true virtues of the heart, my love.

Gifts not forced if thine love shall be true.

My body shall cling to only yours and yours shall only be mine, my love.

I offer you cleanliness of thought, body, and soul, as your betrothed my love.

A weekly bar of soap and a shave you shall offer before you enter our chambers.

And dinner shall be on the table at sunset, kindly leave soiled boots at the door, my love.

I digress, my heart must be bursting with undeniable joy, my love.

My father shall offer you seven horses, a mule, and our fattest pig.

I do pray you shall have enough gold to maintain me in the style my father did, my love.

I have waited for years, and years, for you to utter these words of love, my love.

I had a keen eye on you for years at the balls while you danced with Jill, Sarah and Mae.

I expect we shall keep dancing, but no swigging goblets of wine, my love.

Children I expect you desire as symbols of our true wedded love, my love.

My figure must remain quite tidy, maybe one babe I shall consider.

I heard speak of surrogates in the near future, wedded bliss shall last until then, my love.

My mother says I doth ask and speak too much, my love.

But I know you have longed to listen to every word I utter and more.

No nagging I shall aspire, and no orders shall I follow, my love.

You know I speak of this all in jest, my love.

You of course shall do just dandy, even though you are no Randy.

Oh did I utter Randy, he is only a gentleman friend, my love.

The decision as always lays only in your faithful hands, my love.

I bow to your wisdom, love speaks only from my tender heart.

As soon as you leave that swine's bed next door, just seek me out, my love.

If I loved thee I shall offer you my heart and my soul, my love.

And now I ponder I may be making this decision too hastily.

Shall our love only grow fonder if we doth wait, my love?

The End

P.S. I shall hope you understand I can not be betrothed to you at this day in time, or tomorrow, or the next fort-night. As I uttered before, Randy may be more than a gentleman friend of mine.