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FORGET THEE?, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Forget thee? - if to dream by night and muse on thee by day
Last Line: Forget me then; -- but ne'er believe that thou canst be forgot!
Subject(s): Love


"FORGET thee?" -- If to dream by night, and muse on thee by day,
If all the worship, deep and wild, a poet's heart can pay,
If prayers in absence breathed for thee to Heaven's protecting power,
If winged thoughts that flit to thee -- a thousand in an hour,
If busy fancy blending thee with all my future lot, --
If this thou call'st "forgetting," thou indeed shalt be forgot!
"Forget thee?" -- Bid the forest-birds forget their sweetest tune;
"Forget thee?" -- Bid the sea forget to swell beneath the moon;
Bid the thirsty flowers forget to drink the eve's refreshing dew;
Thyself forget thine "own dear land,": and its "mountains
wild and blue;"
Forget each old familiar face, each long-remembered spot; --
When these things are forgot by thee, then thou shalt be forgot!
Keep, if thou wilt, thy maiden peace, still calm and fancy-free,
For God forbid thy gladsome heart should grow less glad for me;
Yet, while that heart is still unwon, O, bid not mine to rove,
But let it nurse its humble faith and uncomplaining love;
If these, preserved for patient years, at last avail me not,
Forget me then; -- but ne'er believe that thou canst be forgot!




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