I am ashes where once I was fire...

When We Two Parted

When we two parted
In silence and tears,
Half broken-hearted
To sever for years,
Pale grew thy cheek and cold,
Colder thy kiss;
Truly that hour foretold
Sorrow to this.

The dew of the morning
Sunk chill on my brow—
It felt like the warning
Of what I feel now.
Thy vows are all broken,
And light is thy fame:
I hear thy name spoken,
And share in its shame.

They name thee before me,
A knell to mine ear;
A shudder comes o'er me—
Why wert thou so dear?
They know not I knew thee,
Who knew thee too well:
Long, long shall I rue thee,
Too deeply to tell.

In secret we met—
In silence I grieve,
That thy heart could forget,
Thy spirit deceive.
If I should meet thee
After long years,
How should I greet thee?
With silence and tears.

This is the patent age of new inventions/ For killing bodies, and saving souls,/ All propagated with the best of intentions.

My days are in the yellow leaf; The flowers and fruits of love are gone; The worm, the canker, and the grief Are mine alone! - Lord Byron (George Gordon Noel Byron),

Oh, for one hour of blind old Dandolo, Th' octogenarian chief, Byzantium's conquering foe!

. . . Years steal Fire from the mind, as vigor from the limb; And life's enchanted cut but sparkles near the brim.