Adrift! A little boat adrift!
And night is coming down!
Will noone guide a little boat
Unto the nearest town?
So Sailors say – on yesterday –
Just as the dusk was brown
One little boat gave up it′s strife
And gurgled down and down.
So angels say – on yesterday –
Just as the dawn was red
One little boat – o′erspent with gales –
Retrimmed its masts – redecked its sails —
And shot – exultant on!
When Summer days are flown!
Thy music still, when Whippowil
And Oriole – are done!
¦
For thee to bloom, I′ll skip the tomb
And row my blossoms o’er!
Pray gather me –
Anemone –
Thy flower – forevermore!
When Roses cease to bloom, Sir,
And Violets are done –
When Bumblebees in solemn flight
Have passed beyond the Sun –
The hand that paused to gather
Open this Summer′s day
Will idle lie – in Auburn –
Then take my flowers – pray!
Oh if remembering were forgetting –
Then I remember not!
And if forgetting – recollecting –
How near I had forgot!