Classic Poem

Forget thee? — No, never! — Why cherish a thought
Towards the friend of thy soul, with injustice so fraught?
Why embitter our fast-fading moments of bliss
By suspicion so wild and unfounded as this?
Forget thee? — No, never! — Among the light-hearted,
Love may sink to decay when the fond ones are parted;
But affection like ours is too deep and sublime,
To be chilled in its ardour by absence or time;
Then, gentle one, banish all doubt from thy breast:
By the kiss that so late on thy lips I impressed, —
By the griefs that have blighted the bloom of my years, —
By the hope that still calls forth a smile thro' my tears, —
By the hour of our parting — thus sweetly delayed, —
By truth firmly tried — and by trust unbetrayed, —
I will not forget thee! — Till life's latest ray
In the dark night of death shall have melted away;
'Mid ambition — fame — fortune — and power, — and gladness, —
Pain, — and peril — and hate — and contention — and sadness; —
Though changes the darkest and brightest betide, —
Thy friendship shall soothe me, thy counsels shall guide,
And thy memory at once be my solace and pride!