Shakespeare's Sonnet 143

Lo, as a careful housewife runs to catchOne of her feather’d creatures broke away,Sets down her babe, and makes all swift dispatchIn pursuit of the thing she would have stay;Whilst her neglected child holds her in chase,Cries to catch her whose busy care is bentTo follow that which flies before her face,Not prizing her poor infant’s discontent;So runn’st thou after that which flies from thee,Whilst I thy babe chase thee afar behind;But if thou catch thy hope, turn back to me,And play the mother’s part, kiss me, be kind;So will I pray that thou mayst have thy ‘Will,’If thou turn back and my loud crying still.

Look at a worried housewife running to catch one of her birds that has escaped. She puts down her baby and hurries after the creature she wanted to keep. Her neglected child follows her, crying to catch her attention. But she is too busy chasing what flies away in front of her. She pays no attention to her poor baby’s distress.
That is how you run after someone who runs from you. Meanwhile, I am your baby, chasing far behind. But if you catch the person you hope for, turn back to me. Act like a mother: kiss me and be kind.
Then I will pray that you get your ‘Will,’ if you turn back and quiet my loud crying.