Poems (Barker)/Good Night Nell and Good-Bye

by Alice J. Green Barker

"Good Night, Nell—And Good-Bye!"

I did not understand him,
 And when he went away
In such a furious passion,
 I thought he would not stay.
He will be back to-morrow
 And ask me with a sigh
To forget he said so coldly,
 "Good night, Nell, and good-bye,"

The morrow came and vanished,
 The next day did the same;
And still he never came to say
 "Nell, I was all to blame."
I bit my lips and shook my head,
 Indeed I would not cry,
But I couldn't help remembering,
 The way he said "good-bye."

I stood beside the window,
 And watched the long dull street,
And listened to the hurry
 Of all the passing feet;
And when I got so tired
 Of that, I watched the sky,
But something seemed to whisper
 "Good night, Nell, and good-bye."

I cannot half remember,
 What made me joke him so;
I know that once he whispered
 My name so soft and low.
And then I said, "I love you,
 But fifty men as well."
The reason of my actions?"
 Do you think I'm going to tell?"

And when he rose so quickly
 And looked me in the face,
I said, "for stage rehearsals
 Please take another place."
I wish I had not said it,
 I know I'm going to cry;
I wonder if he meant it.
 "Good night, Nell, and good-bye,"

I know that he will never
 Come back to me again,
Oh dear, my heart is breaking
 With this great sudden pain
Hark, hark! I know his footstep,
 I'm glad I didn't cry,
He's sorry that he told me
 "Good night, Nell, and good-bye."