Poems (Holley)/Farewell

by Marietta Holley

FAREWELL.

Lift up your brown eyes, darling,
 Not timidly and shy,
As in the fair, lost past, not thus
 I'd have you meet my eye.
But grave, and calm, and earnest,
 Thus bravely should we part,
Not sorrowfully, not lightly,
 And so farewell, dear heart.

Yes, fare thee well, farewell,
 Whate'er shall me betide
May gentlest angels comfort thee,
 And peace with thee abide;
Our love was but a stormy love,
 'Tis your will we should part—
So smile upon me once, darling,
 And then farewell, dear heart.

But lay your hand once on my brow,
 Set like a saintly crown,
It will shield me, it will help me
 To hurl temptations down.
God give thee better love than mine—
 Nay, dear, no tears must start,
See, I am quiet, thou must be,
 And now farewell, dear heart.