REMEMBRANCE.

Swifter far than summer's 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.