ROSEMARY

‘ E'er August be turned to September,

Nor Summer to Autumn as yet,

My darling, you Autumn remember

What Summer so sure to forget.

‘ Though age may extinguish the ember

That glowed in our hearts when we met,

Remember, my love, to remember,

And I will forget to forget.

‘ Who knows but the winds of December

May drift us asunder, my pet;

And if I forget to remember,

Remember, my sweet, to forget!

‘ My beauty will fade, as the posy

You gave me that night on the stairs;

My lips will not always be rosy,

My head cannot give itself‘ airs.

‘ Alas! as we both become older,

Existence draws nigh to a close;

So, until I've forgotten your shoulder,

You must not remember my nose.

‘ Our days were not all sunny weather;

Even so we have nought to regret,—

Ah! let us remember together,

Until we forget to forget!’