If You Were Here

O Love, if you were here,
This dreary, weary day;
If your lips, warm and dear.

Found some sweet word to say, —
Then hardly would seem drear
These skies of wintry gray.

But you are far away, —
How far from me, my dear!
What cheer can warm the day?

My heart is chill with fear.
Pierced through with swift dismay, —
A thought has turned Life sere:

If you, from far away,
Should come not back, my dear;
If I no more might lay

My hand on yours, nor hear
That voice, now sad, now gay,
Caress my listening ear

If you, from far away.
Should come no more, my dear, —
Then with what dire dismay

Year joined to hostile year
Would frown, if I should stay
Where memories mock and jeer!

But I would come away
To dwell with you, my dear;
Through unknown worlds to stray, —

Or sleep; nor hope, nor fear,
Nor dream beneath the clay,
Of all our days that were.