Do not forget me! when the day is ending,
And dark'ning shadows gather o'er the sea;
Sometimes alone, and near this casement bending,
Pause in the twilight and remember me!

Think on the brightness of the summer weather,
Years, years ago, one well-remember'd day,
When to the woods we wander'd forth together,
Amongst the primroses and blue bells gay.

Time changes all! those blossoms now are faded,
Or, if they bloom, they do not seem as fair
As once before, when, by the beech-trees shaded,
You twined them tenderly amongst my hair.

I dash away the tear, that all unbidden
Arises, when I think that this is past,
And muse on all my anxious heart has hidden
Since the sad ev'ning when I saw you last!

Earth has enough of heav'n to gild its sorrow
And turn the current of its griefs away,
Could we but learn to dread no dark To-morrow,
And live for ever in one glad To-day!

Whilst I have mused in solitude and sadness
On all the changes fleeting time can bring,
Others have hallow'd to you, with their gladness,
The happy hours of many another Spring.

All this I know, yet when the shadows darken,
And when none other better loved is by
To mark your silent mood, perchance, or hearken
To the soft echo of a half-heaved sigh;

Then lend to me that hour of soft emotion,
And link'd in spirit let us leave the shore,
And floating o'er the dark mysterious ocean,
Be unto one another as before!

Do not forget me! when the day is ending,
And dark'ning shadows linger o'er the sea,
Sometimes alone, and near this casement bending,
Pause in the twilight and remember me!

Then be it so and let us part,
Since love like mine has fail'd to move thee;
But do not think this constant heart
Can ever cease, ingrate, to love thee.
No—spite of all thy cold disdain,
I'll bless the hour when first I met thee,
And rather bear whole years of pain
Than e'en for one short hour forget thee.
                                               Forget thee! No.

Still Mem'ry now my only friend,
Shall with her soothing art endeavour
My present anguish to suspend,
By painting pleasures lost for ever.
She shall the happy hours renew.
When full of hope and smiles I met thee,
And little thought the day to view
When thou wouldst wish me to forget thee.
                                               Forget thee! No.

Yet, have I liv'd to view that day,
To mourn my past destructive blindness,
To see now turn'd with scorn away
Those eyes once fill'd with answering kindness.
But go—farewell and be thou blest,
If thoughts of what I feel will let thee:
Yet, though thy Image kills my rest,
'Twere greater anguish to forget thee.
                                               Forget thee! No.