Farewell to thee,
To thee, the young home of my heart, farewell!
How often will thy form in memory
Renew the spell;
Each burning tone,
Far sweeter than the wild bird's melting note;
Across my spirit like a dream by-gone,
Their voices float.
When rose the song,
The life gush of the bosom, fresh and free,
There breathed no sorrow as it swept along
Thy halls of glee;
Oh, when the gay,
The merry hearted blend the tide again,
Then fling to her, the loved one far away,
One kindly strain.
The skies are bright
That canopy thy bowers, my soul's young rest;
And, like thy fairy visions, robed in light,
The loveliest:
The bird among
Thy deep perfumes pours its rich melody;
Oh, in the music of that matin song
Remember me!
Another now,
Mother, above thy silvery locks must bend;
And when the death-shade gathers on thy brow,
Who then will tend
Thy fading light?
Oh, in its gleam all feebly, tremblingly,
The last gush of thy spirit in its flight,
Remember me!
Sister, one sigh
Upon the midnight's balmy breath did float;
One love-lit smile beneath the summer sky,
One echo note:
Oh, never yet,
Through love, life, music, feeling, fragrancy,
Can I the mingling of those hours forget;
Remember me!
The chained spell
Is strong, my own fair home, that bids us sever;
And bound in loveliness to break, no, never!
Then fare thee well:
And perished here,
As from the rosy leaf the dew that fell,
I dash from love's young wreath the passing tear;
My own bright home, farewell!