Classic Poem

Dost thou remember all the vanished hours?
Dost thou remember youth's unshaded morn?
Dost thou remember when the fresh, fair flowers
Faded so long, were born?
Dost thou remember?

Brown were those locks then, wife, that now are gray,
Bright were those tender eyes that now are dim,
And musical the voice to chant Love's lay,
That's now a Vesper hymn—
Dost thou remember?

I know thou dost, my darling; for thy looks
Are beaming with the light of former days;
I read them as I read familiar books
That win my constant praise.
Dost thou remember?

How canst thou but remember! we have had
Our joys and griefs together—have we not?
Pleasant have been our mutual thoughts and sad,
The same our earthly lot.
Dost thou remember?

Ah! well my memory paints thy early Spring;
I see thee in thy girlhood's blushing dawn,
Blithe as a bird upon ecstatic wing,
Yet timid as a fawn.
How I remember!

Oh! many, many years have flown since then,
And thou art in thy Autumn's pale decline,
But, as I gaze on thee, I see again
The charms that erst were thine.
How I remember!

Dost thou remember how I sang those charms
In oft-repeated verses o'er and o'er;
And, when a bride enfolded in my arms,
Rehearsed them more and more?
Dost thou remember?

And still I sing them; still thou art to me
My Muse, my inspiration, and my love;
I have not changed, in word or deed, for thee—
Have I, my dear old dove?
Dost thou remember?

And never can I. Death will not divide
Hearts knit together by eternal ties;
Yes—we shall keep united, side by side,
So that in Paradise
We shall remember!