Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.

II. Parting and Absence

Palinode

James Russell Lowell (1819–1891)

STILL thirteen years: ’t is autumn now

On field and hill, in heart and brain;

The naked trees at evening sough;

The leaf to the forsaken bough

Sighs not,—“Auf wiedersehen!”

Two watched yon oriole’s pendent dome,

That now is void, and dank with rain,

And one,—oh, hope more frail than foam!

The bird to his deserted home

Sings not,—“Auf wiedersehen!”

The loath gate swings with rusty creak;

Once, parting there, we played at pain;

There came a parting, when the weak

And fading lips essayed to speak

Vainly,—“Auf wiedersehen!”

Somewhere is comfort, somewhere faith,

Though thou in outer dark remain;

One sweet sad voice ennobles death,

And still, for eighteen centuries saith

Softly,—“Auf wiedersehen!”

If earth another grave must bear,

Yet heaven hath won a sweeter strain,

And something whispers my despair,

That, from an orient chamber there,

Floats down,—“Auf wiedersehen!”