Remembrance

Swifter far than summers flight -

Swifter far than youth's delight -

Swifter far than happy night,

Art thou come and gone -

As the earth when leaves are dead,

As the night when sleep is sped,

As the heart when joy is fled,

I am left lone, alone.

The swallow summer comes again -

The owlet night resumes her reign -

But the wild-swan youth is fain

To fly with thee, false as thou. -

My heart each day desires the morrow;

Sleep itself is turned to sorrow;

Vainly would my winter borrow

Sunny leaves from any bough.

Lilies for a bridal bed -

Roses for a matron's head -

Violets for a maiden dead -

Pansies let my flowers be:

On the living grave I bear

Scatter them without a tear -

Let no friend, however dear,

Waste one hope, one fear for me.