Would we return
If once the gates which close upon the past
Were opened wide for us, and if the dear
Remembered pathway stretched before us, clear,
To lead us back to youth's lost land at last;
Whereon life's April shadows lightly cast.
Recalled the old sweet days of childish fear
With all their faded hopes and brought anear
The far-off streams in which our skies were glassed:
Did these lost dreams which wake the soul's sad yearning
But live once more and wait for our returning,
Would we return?
Would we return
If love's enchantment held the heart no more
And we had come to count the wild sweet pain,
The fond distress, the lavish tears — but vain;
Had cooled the heart's hot wounds amidst the roar
Of mountain gales, or, on some alien shore
Worn out the soul's long anguish, and had slain
The dragon of despair — if then the train
Of vanished years came back, and, as of yore,
The same voice called, and, with soft eyes beguiling,
Our lost love beckoned, through time's gray veil smiling,
Would we return?
Would we return
Once we had crossed to death's unlovely land
And trod the bloomless ways among the dead,
Lone and unhappy; after years had fled
With twilight wings along that glimmering strand,
If then — an angel came with outstretched hand
To lead us back, and we recalled in dread
How soon the tears that once for us are shed
May flow for others — how, like words in sand,
Our memory fades away — how oft our waking
Might vex the living with the dead heart's breaking,
Would we return —
aWould we return?
If once the gates which close upon the past
Were opened wide for us, and if the dear
Remembered pathway stretched before us, clear,
To lead us back to youth's lost land at last;
Whereon life's April shadows lightly cast.
Recalled the old sweet days of childish fear
With all their faded hopes and brought anear
The far-off streams in which our skies were glassed:
Did these lost dreams which wake the soul's sad yearning
But live once more and wait for our returning,
Would we return?
Would we return
If love's enchantment held the heart no more
And we had come to count the wild sweet pain,
The fond distress, the lavish tears — but vain;
Had cooled the heart's hot wounds amidst the roar
Of mountain gales, or, on some alien shore
Worn out the soul's long anguish, and had slain
The dragon of despair — if then the train
Of vanished years came back, and, as of yore,
The same voice called, and, with soft eyes beguiling,
Our lost love beckoned, through time's gray veil smiling,
Would we return?
Would we return
Once we had crossed to death's unlovely land
And trod the bloomless ways among the dead,
Lone and unhappy; after years had fled
With twilight wings along that glimmering strand,
If then — an angel came with outstretched hand
To lead us back, and we recalled in dread
How soon the tears that once for us are shed
May flow for others — how, like words in sand,
Our memory fades away — how oft our waking
Might vex the living with the dead heart's breaking,
Would we return —
aWould we return?