A Sigh

O Life! -- what a dream,
  What a tale that is told!
How strangely I seem
  On a sudden grown old;
With records behind me
  Of years by the score,
And all to remind me
  That they are no more!

The friends of my prime
  Are dead, or grown grey,
Or distanced by time,
  Or stolen away;
And as my thought ranges
  O'er people and things,
Perpetual changes
  My memory rings!

Ah! days that are past,--
  How vague to mine eyes
As perishing fast
  Recollections arise!
O pity and sorrow
  That feelings decay,
And ev'ry To-morrow
  Out-clamours To-day!

But solemn in sooth
    Is Yesterday's page,--
Alas! for my youth,
  Alas! for mine age,
Alas! is the sighing
  From heart and from head,
For pleasures so flying
  And pleasures so fled!