“FAREWELL!”

“Farewell!” is much too sighful for

An age that has not time to sigh.

We say, “I'll see you later,” or

“Good-bye!”

“Fare well” meant long ago, before

It crept tear-spattered into song,

“Safe voyage!” “Pleasant journey!” or

“So long!”

But gone its cheery, old-time ring:

The poets made it rime with knell.

Joined, it became a dismal thing —

“Farewell!”

“Farewell!” Into the lover's soul

You see fate plunge the cruel iron.

All poets use it. It's the whole

Of Byron.

“I only feel — farewell!” said he;

And always tearful was the telling.

Lord Byron was eternally

Farewelling.

“Farewell!” A dismal word,‘ tis true.

( And why not tell the truth about it? )

But what on earth would poets do

Without it!