I don’t love you quite enough
To let you help me out right now
Though I do appreciate the offer
It would be better if I went without

And please do not say to me
You trust that I will pay you back
Of course I would, no question
But that is not the point at all

I might accept simple charity
Your obligation toward all mankind
But when it become more specific
I fear there is too much invested

If you offered because you love me
And I think that is how you feel
I would feel, in turn, some obligation
A need to reciprocate that love

You can tell that I am quite conflicted
And yes, it a point of honor on my part
I feel a commitment should come first
For true love requires no paying back

I cannot take advantage of your love
Unless, or until, I can love you in return
Then we would be on equal status
Till then I simply cannot do this thing

Now she tells me she understands
You are a proud man, but in a noble way
My offer was never intended as a bribe
I would not want you to love me just for that

But I do want you to love me, you know that
I have no reason or desire to deny that fact
So what if I offered just companionship
That should help in these hard times

And in the meantime we’ll see what happens
I want us to be together, to share adversity
And that will give us time to prepare ourselves
For you to love me, or for me to do without