---
title: "Esteem for Chloris"
author: "Robert Burns"
form: "Poem"
year: "1794"
location: "Dumfries"
source: "Project Gutenberg #1279 — Poems and Songs of Robert Burns"
source_url: "https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1279/pg1279.txt"
canonical_url: "https://robert-burns.com/poems/esteem-for-chloris/"
---

# Esteem for Chloris

## Poem
As, Chloris, since it may not be,  
That thou of love wilt hear;  
If from the lover thou maun flee,  
Yet let the friend be dear.

Altho’ I love my Chloris mair  
Than ever tongue could tell;  
My passion I will ne’er declare—  
I’ll say, I wish thee well.

Tho’ a’ my daily care thou art,  
And a’ my nightly dream,  
I’ll hide the struggle in my heart,  
And say it is esteem.

---

Source: [Project Gutenberg #1279 — Poems and Songs of Robert Burns](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1279/pg1279.txt)  
Canonical HTML: https://robert-burns.com/poems/esteem-for-chloris/