Classic Poem

Do you forget the joyous time
When summer woods were green and palmy?
When we were in our youthful prime,
And summer days were bright and balmy?
Then wandering through the wooded ways,
Or couched among the purple heather,
Screened from the sun's refulgent rays,
We sang our merry songs together.

Glad was the time: no carking care
Had ever cast a shadow o'er us;
The path we trod was bright and fair,
And life lay bright and fair before us.
So, hand in hand, we journeyed on
With hearts as light as any feather:
Life had a sunny side alone,
When you and I sang songs together.

Those days seem far, far distant now —
The way we've wandered long and dreary —
The furrows gather on your brow,
And I am growing worn and weary;
Along the path that we have trod
We've met dark clouds and stormy weather,
And over many an Ichabod
We've wept our burning tears together.

Yet, close together, as of old,
Across the waste we'll still keep moving;
Years cannot make our hearts grow cold,
Age cannot keep these hearts from loving.
And when we leave this world of care,
Then, far above yon floating ether,
In that bright land where all is fair
We'll sing our joyful songs together.