FORGET thee, MARY!—no, not yet; Too pleasing is the pensive debt Which memory owes to thee; Not out of mind, though out of sight; While retrospection claims her right, And friendship can afford delight, From all such fears be free. For whom would memory's magic art Wish to enshrine within the heart? Oh, would it not be one Simple, ingenuous, modest, meek; Whose praise we scarcely dare to speak, So much her eye, and changing cheek, Each plaudit seems to shun? Whose gentle manners, void of art, Can cheer and charm that wounded heart Which beauty could not bow: Such live in memory's ear and eye, Endear'd by many a tender tie, And though remote, are ever nigh, And such, dear friend, art thou. Yet, lovely as thou art, not thine The praise alone: for this one line I know thou'lt not reprove me; Young as thou art, thou know'st from whence Thy brightest charms of soul and sense; Be HE who gave them, their defence, And all who know must love thee. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PORTENT by HERMAN MELVILLE A SEA-SPELL (FOR A PICTURE) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI THE PHOENIX AND THE TURTLE by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE THE LITTLE CROSS by EDITH AGNEW POLYHYMNIA: VERSES TO LORD NORREYS, SELECTION by WILLIAM BASSE |