Cold in the earth, the deep snow piled above thee!
Far, far removed, cold in the dreary grave!
Have I forgot, my Only Love, to love thee,
Severed at last by Time's all wearing wave?

Cold in the earth, and fifteen wild Decembers
From those brown hills have melted into spring
Faithful indeed the spirit that remembers
After years of change and suffering!

Sweet love of youth, forgive if I forget thee
While the World's tide is bearing me along;
Other desires and darker hopes beset me
Hopes which obscure but cannot do thee wrong

No other Sun has lightened up my heaven;
No other Star has ever shone for me;
All my life's bliss from thy dear life was given
all my life's bliss is in the grave with thee.

But when the days of golden dreams had perished
Even despair was powerless to destroy
Then I did learn how existence could be cherished
Strengthened and fed without the aid of joy

Then did I check the tears of useless passion,
Weaned my young soul from yearning after thine;
Sternly denied its burning wish to hasten
Down to that tomb already more then mine

And even yet, I dare not let it languish
Dare not indulge in Memory's rapturous pain;
Once drinking deep of that divinest anguish,
How could I seek the empty world again?