Violets and Other Tales/Farewell

Farewell, sweetheart, and again farewell; To day we part, and who can tell If we shall e'er again Meet, and with clasped hands Renew our vows of love, and forget The sad, dull pain.

Dear heart, 'tis bitter thus to lose thee And think mayhap, you will forget me; And yet, I thrill As I remember long and happy days Fraught with sweet love and pleasant memories That linger still

You go to loved ones who will smile And clasp you in their arms, and all the while I stay and moan For you, my love, my heart and strive To gather up life's dull, gray thread And walk alone.

Aye, with you love the red and gold Goes from my life, and leaves it cold And dull and bare, Why should I strive to live and learn And smile and jest, and daily try You from my heart to tare?

Nay, sweetheart, rather would I lie Me down, and sleep for aye; or fly To regions far Where cruel Fate is not and lovers live Nor feel the grim, cold hand of Destiny Their way to bar.

I murmur not, dear love, I only say Again farewell. God bless the day On which we met, And bless you too, my love, and be with you In sorrow or in happiness, nor let you E'er me forget.