Classic Poem

Thy charms are all decaying, love,
The smile that once was playing, love,
So pure and bright,
It seemed but light
From day's clear fountain straying, love,—

That smile away is stealing, love,
Thy lip no more revealing, love,
The sweets of soul,
That Cupid stole
To fill his cup of feeling, love.

That lip will shed its sweetness, love,
Thy form will lose its fleetness, love,
Arrayed no more,
As when it wore
The snowy veil of neatness, love.

O, time is stealing by us, love,
And age is drawing nigh us, love;
So let me sip
Thy dewy lip
Before the young hours fly us, love.

The rose of youth is blowing, love,
The tide of health is flowing, love;
Then let me be
Entwined to thee,
As elms and vines are growing, love.

A chain of flowers has twined us, love,
And blest the hours shall find us, love;
Then heart from heart
No more shall part,
Till age and death unbind us, love.