Living

Song of Parting

by James Whitcomb Riley 1849–1916

From Riley Songs of Home (1910)

Living

Say farewell, and let me go;
Shatter every vow!
All the future can bestow
Will be welcome now!
And if this fair hand I touch
I have worshipped overmuch,
It was my mistake--and so,
Say farewell, and let me go.

Say farewell, and let me go:
Murmur no regret,
Stay your tear-drops ere they flow--
Do not waste them yet!
They might pour as pours the rain,
And not wash away the pain:
I have tried them and I know.--
Say farewell, and let me go.

Say farewell, and let me go:
Think me not untrue--
True as truth is, even so
I am true to you!
If the ghost of love may stay
Where my fond heart dies to-day,
I am with you alway--so,
Say farewell, and let me go.

MLA

Riley, James Whitcomb. “Song of Parting.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/riley/409/.

Chicago

Riley, James Whitcomb. “Song of Parting.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/riley/409/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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