Classic Poem

We 're growing old, my comrade true;
We've fallen on autumn weather;
The skies that smiled so long on us,
The sun that shone so strong on us,
Are darkening together.

We loved the sun and sea and sky,
And idleness and folly;
Life never was too bright for us,
Sun never shone too light for us,
We knew not melancholy.

Thou camest to me so virgin white,
No lips but mine e'er pressing;
I loved thee then as dear as now,
I found thee aye sincere as now,
As warm, as sweet caressing.

But ah! the fire was in thy breast
Is waxing colder, dimmer;
The light that once could brighten me
Now pales enough to frighten me
With its expiring glimmer.

Thou wert as dear as nearer friends,
And truer to the end;
When love hath smiled and lied to me,
And fortune falsely cried to me,
Thou wert mine only friend.

Thou art not of the race of man,
But other, nobler clay.
I bought thee for two copper sous,
And having served my proper use,
I throw thee thus away.