Classic Poem

Had we not met we had not known these sighs,
These heartaches and these leaden-wingèd years,
The sorrows speaking in these grief-wet eyes;
Had we not met we had not known these tears.

And yet, had we not met, we had not known
The bliss of gladness in those other whiles,
Ere the gay-plumaged yesterday had flown.
Had we not met we had not known those smiles.