100 Greatest Poems by A . E Housman - HTML preview

When We Two Parted

In silence and tears,
Half broken-hearted
To sever for years,
Pale grew thy cheek and cold,

Colder thy kiss;
Truly that hour foretold
Sorrow to this.

The dew of the morning Sunk chill on my brow—
It felt like the warning Of what I feel now.
Thy vows are all broken, And light is thy fame;
I hear thy name spoken, And share in its shame.

They name thee before me, A knell to mine ear;
A shudder comes o'er me— Why wert thou so dear?
They know not I knew thee, Who knew thee too well—
Long, long shall I rue thee, To deeply to tell.

In secret we met—
In silence I grieve,
That thy heart could forget, Thy spirit deceive.
If I should meet thee
After long years,
How should I greet thee?— With silence and tears.