Sonnet XIII from 'The Assent' sonnet sequence - long poem by R.C.Appleton.

Sonnet XIII
But you are not my love, and cannot be,
If friendship suffers from the truth, then so
Be it, but since I cannot see to see,
So near and yet so far have I to go
To find you in your self and not in trust
To someone else, who also states her claim
To love you, whilst I do not yield to lust
Alone to be more lonely in its name,
Nor can I reach to take what is not mine
Since stolen kisses have a bitter taste,
And must, respecting what I hold divine,
Refrain from laying others' hearts to waste
Who though I do not know them, soon will tell
What kind of woman sends them to this hell.

For the full color illustrated print book of 'The Assent' sonnet sequence by R.C.Appleton see:
https://www.lulu.com/shop/rosemary-appleton/the-assent/hardcover/product-1rmdq8j.html?q=The+Assent&page=1&pageSize=4