Cross Roads

AT PARTING

     Love of my life, the time has come for parting—
        For, dearest, I must leave you while we care!
     Leave you while tears of vain regret are starting,
        While I can look at you and find you fair.
     Could we endure a morn of bitter waking,
        Could we accept a love that would seem less?
     Dear, I must go the while my heart is breaking—
        Go while my world is filled with happiness.

     Love of my soul, our dream has been so flaming,
        That, if we waited, it might smoulder down—
     Leaving dead ashes only, ashes shaming
        All that was vivid—ashes dimly brown.
     We will have memories as sweet as flowers,
        We who have left, untouched, Fate's cup of woe;
     Kiss me once more to bridge life's aching hours—
        Love of my heart—the time has come to go!

     WHEN I AM OLD—

     When I am old and drenched in worlds of sadness,
        And wear a lacy cap upon my head;
     When, looking past the future's singing gladness,
        I linger, wistful, in the years long dead.
     When I am old, and young folk all about me,
        Speak softly of religion, WHEN THEY SPEAK,
     When parties are a grand success without me;
        And when my laugh is fluttering and weak—

     Will I then be content to raise my glances,
        Serenely to the cloud-entangled sky?
     And will I be content to watch at dances,
        Without a heartbreak, as the hours pass by?
     Or when I see young lovers' fingers twine,
     WILL I REMEMBER, DEAR, YOUR LIPS ON MINE?