If I Could But Forget
If I could but forget The fullness of those first sweet days,
When you burst sun-like thro' the haze Of unacquaintance, on my sight,
And made the wet, gray day seem bright While clouds themselves grew fair to see.
And since, no day is gray or wet But all the scene comes back to me,
If I could but forget.
If I could but forget How your dusk eyes look into mine,
And how I thrilled as with strong wine Beneath your touch; while sped amain The quickened stream thro' ev'ry vein;
How near my breath fell to a gasp,
When for a space our fingers met In one electric vibrant clasp,
If I could but forget.
If I could but forget The months of passion and of pain,
And all that followed in their train— Rebellious thoughts that would arise,
Rebellious tears that dimmed mine eyes,
The prayers that I might set love's fire Aflame within your bosom yet— The death at last of that desire— If I could but forget.
Paul Laurence Dunbar
Other author posts
Christmas Carol
Ring out, ye bells All Nature With gladness at the wondrous story, — The world was at lorn, But Christ is To change our sadness into glory
Dreams
What dreams we have and how they Like rosy clouds across the sky; Of wealth, of fame, of sure success, Of love that comes to cheer and bless; And how they wither, how they fade, The waning wealth, the jilting jade — The fame that fo...
Lifes Tragedy
It may be misery not to sing at all, And to go silent through the brimming day; It may be misery never to be loved, But deeper griefs than these beset the way
Old
I have seen peoples come and go Alike the Ocean'd ebb and flow; I have seen kingdoms rise and fall Like springtime shadows on a wall I have seen houses rendered great That grew from life's debased estate, And all, all, all is change...
