trying to find a poem again

April 4, 2019 5:22 AM

I'm trying to find a poem again that I read years ago. It's short, maybe only one stanza. I think it might have been written by Robert Graves. The bits I can remember go like this (not sure it's the right order): Expect nothing. Exist on crumbs. Not for you she smiles, but for the birds. [something something something] and the lonely word of honour pledged.

I've tried googling with no success. I'm pretty sure I read it in one of my mom's books when I was in high school (so 20 years ago), but I haven't been able to find it again there either.

posted by colfax to Writing & Language (2 answers total)

Best answer: Expect Nothing

Give, ask for nothing, hope for nothing,
Subsist on crumbs, though scattered casually
Not for you (she smiles) but for the birds.
Though only a thief’s diet, it staves off
Dire starvation, nor does she grow fat
On the bread she crumbles, while the lonely truth
Of love is honoured, and her word pledged.

- Robert Graves
posted by flabdablet at 6:05 AM on April 4, 2019 [13 favorites]

Response by poster: Thank you, thank you, you lovely person, you! This has been bothering me for a long time and it's so nice to have the full poem again.
posted by colfax at 7:39 AM on April 4, 2019