Like some divided river Your ways and mine will be, For ever till the sea. And yet for one word spoken, The dream had not been broken, And love were with us yet. THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME THE dames of France are fond and free, And soft the maids of Italy, And Spanish eyes are thrilling; Still, though I bask beneath their smile, For she's as fair as Shannon's side, But she refused to be my bride Though many a year I sought her; That I promised never to gainsay She says, "My own dear love, come home, My friends are rich and many, Or else abroad with you I'll roam, A soldier stout as any; If you'll not come, nor let me go, I'll think you have resigned me," My heart nigh broke when I answered "No," To the girl I left behind me. Remember or Forget For never shall my true love brave I'll tread my native soil on; The battle's close would find me To Ireland bound, nor message need From the girl I left behind me. 967 Unknown "WHEN WE ARE PARTED" WHEN we are parted let me lie In some far corner of thy heart, Cherished by one, and one alone, When we are parted. When we are parted, keep for me The sacred stillness of the night; That hour, sweet Love, is mine by right; Let others claim the day of thee! The cold world sleeping at our feet, My spirit shall discourse with thine;- At thy heart's door I stand and beat, Hamilton Aidé [1826-1906] REMEMBER OR FORGET I SAT beside the streamlet, The soft rain pattered on the leaves, The April grass was wet. 'Tis wiser to forget. The nightingales made vocal 'Twere wisdom to forget. I stood among the gold corn, Of the love that fell from you. The streamlet now is frozen, Hamilton Aidé [1826-1906] NANCY DAWSON NANCY DAWSON, Nancy Dawson, Not so very long ago Some one wronged you from sheer love, dear; Little thinking it would crush, dear, All I cherished in you so. My Little Love But now, what's the odds, my Nancy? Nancy Dawson, Nancy Dawson, Till I feel the sad hours creep, dear, And then, unawares, my Nancy, You are Nancy, that old Nancy; 969 Herbert P. Horne [18 MY LITTLE LOVE GOD keep you safe, my little love, All through the night. Rest close in His encircling arms Until the light. My heart is with you as I kneel to pray, "Good night! God keep you in His care alway." Thick shadows creep like silent ghosts About my bed. I lose myself in tender dreams While overhead The moon comes stealing through the window bars. A silver sickle gleaming 'mid the stars. For I, though I am far away, Feel safe and strong, To trust you thus, dear love, and yet The night is long. I say with sobbing breath the old fond prayer, "Good night! Sweet dreams! God keep you everywhere!" Charles B. Hawley [1858 FOR EVER THRICE with her lips she touched my lips, And three times thrice looked towards the sea, But never to the land: Then, "Sweet," she said, "no more delay, For Heaven forbids a longer stay." I, with my passion in my heart, But striving often to depart, I strained her to my breast: The anchor swings, the sheet flies loose The tall ship, never to return, O Love, turn towards the land thy sight! No more peruse the sea; Our God, who severs thus our hearts, For me let waste-wide ocean swing, I too lie safe beneath His wing. William Caldwell Roscoe [1823-1859] AUF WIEDERSEHEN THE little gate was reached at last, And said,—“Auf wiedersehen !" |