I Remember I Remember

I remember,

I remember,

The house where I was born,

The little window where the sun Came peeping in at morn;

He never came a wink too soon,

Nor brought too long a day,

But now,

I often wish the night Had borne my breath away!

I remember,

I remember,

The roses, red and white,

The violets, and the lily-cups,

Those flowers made of light!

The lilacs where the robin built,

And where my brother set The laburnum on his birthday,— The tree is living yet!

I remember,

I remember,

Where I was used to swing,

And thought the air must rush as fresh To swallows on the wing;

My spirit flew in feathers then,

That is so heavy now,

And summer pools could hardly cool The fever on my brow!

I remember,

I remember,

The fir trees dark and high;

I used to think their slender tops Were close against the sky:

It was a childish ignorance,

But now 'tis little joy To know I'm farther off from Heav'n Than when I was a boy.