So Long Ago

We loved so long ago; so long

     Ago now it seems

Like some old soothing childhood song,

     That lulled me into dreams.

We loved so long ago, – but, ah!

     We were too poor to wed;

And so I left you, going far,

     To win a house and bread.

We vowed “eternal constance”, well,

     The old, old story came;

Unto a banker did you sell

     Your beauty and your name.

I cursed and raved, and railed at fate,

     Then wed an heiress, – lo!

But soon I thought, how fortunate

     We loved so long ago!

March 9, ‘95

Pub. in Boston

Courier, May 26,

     1895