Rosemary

'E'er August be turned to September,
Nor Summer to Autumn as yet,
My darling, you Autumn remember
What Summer so sure to forget.

'Though age may extinguish the ember
That glowed in our hearts when we met,
Remember, my love, to remember,
And I will forget to forget.

'Who knows but the winds of December
May drift us asunder, my pet;
And if I forget to remember,
Remember, my sweet, to forget!

'My beauty will fade, as the posy
You gave me that night on the stairs;
My lips will not always be rosy,
My head cannot give itself 'airs.

'Alas! as we both become older,
Existence draws nigh to a close;
So, until I've forgotten your shoulder,
You must not remember my nose.

'Our days were not all sunny weather;
Even so we have nought to regret,--
Ah! let us remember together,
Until we forget to forget!'