Poems (Curwen)/Marie

by Annie Isabel Curwen

Marie.

They say you are failing fast, Marie,
 That life is on the wane,
That in a little while, Marie,
 You will be free from pain;
That I—that I shall never see
 My girlhood's friend again.

I mind me of the past, Marie,
 Lang syne in life's forenoon,
Your cheeks glowed brightly red, Marie,
 Like the sweet red rose in June;
Ah! little did we think, Marie,
 The rose would fade so soon.

I think I see you now, Marie,
 The day that you were wed,
With downcast eyes and blushing face,
 And drooping dusky head;
I kissed you in the aisle, Marie,
 But Annie wept and said,

"Our circle's broken now, girls,
 It's charm for aye has gone;
Our golden chain will shorten
 As the hurrying years roll on."
Dear Annie, she was right, Marie,
 The links snapped one by one.

Thank God! Your path's been smooth, Marie,
 Your cup has aye been fu',
And though you've had your sorrows,
 Your cares have aye been few;
You've bonnie bairns around, Marie,
 And a husband kind and true.

And now the day is o'er, Marie,
 Over your setting sun
The clouds are gathering fast, Marie,
 The light will soon be gone;
Just a little while, Marie,
 And then, God's will be done.