Farewell

Farewell, farewell, O magic word,

     How many hearts you sever;

You separate us for a year,

     And sometimes ‘tis forever.

Farewell, farewell, O dreaded sound,

     To cause mine eyes to blur;

To others may I lightly speak,

     But not to her, to her.

Farewell, farewell, in many ways

     We use it o’er again;

We smile we wave, we kiss or speak,

     In either joy or pain.

Farewell, farewell, the one refrain

     That sets my soul astir;

To others may I lightly speak,

     But not to her, to her.

July 29, ‘95