They Flee From Me

They flee from me that sometime did me seek
With naked foot, stalking in my chamber.
I have seen them gentle, tame, and meek,
That now are wild and do not remember
That sometime they put themself in danger
To take bread at my hand; and now they range,
Busily seeking with a continual change.

Thanked be fortune it hath been otherwise
Twenty times better; but once in special,
In thin array after a pleasant guise,
When her loose gown from her shoulders did fall,
And she me caught in her arms long and small;
Therewithall sweetly did me kiss
And softly said, "dear heart, how like you this?"

It was no dream: I lay broad waking.
But all is turned thorough my gentleness
Into a strange fashion of forsaking;
And I have leave to go of her goodness,
And she also, to use newfangleness.
But since that I so kindly am served
I would fain know what she hath deserved.

As part of my poetry class, here is one which I had to read and felt it really brings meaning. It just is interesting how Thomas Wyatt (1503-1542) captures the culture of that time in such beautiful composition.

Basically it's like a lament from men. Men of that century had many female companions (courtiers) who entertained the men (even the married ones) and also provide them sexual pleasures. Wyatt describes the women to first be tamed and vulnerable when in the speaker's room but later as time goes, he instead falls victim to the woman. She have him in her arms seeking and lusting for her while she gently kisses him and asked if he enjoys. After the affair ended, she allowed the man to leave because she knows of his good stead while she promiscously goes for another. He ends by saying that he was treated with care and believes that she deserved better.

*This is my understanding after reading the poem several times and also reading the explanations available on the Internet.