Time And Love

Time flies.  The swift hours hurry by
 And speed us on to untried ways;
New seasons ripen, perish, die,
 And yet love stays.
The old, old love – like sweet at first,
 At last like bitter wine –
I know not if it blest or curst,
 Thy life and mine.

Time flies.  In vain our prayers, our tears,
 We cannot tempt him to delays;
Down to the past he bears the years,
 And yet love stays.
Through changing task and varying dream
 We hear the same refrain,
As one can hear a plaintive theme
 Run through each strain.

Time flies.  He steals out pulsing youth,
 He robs us of our care-free days,
He takes away our trust and truth,
 And yet love stays.
O Time! take love!  When love is vain,
 When all its best joys die –
When only its regrets remain –
 Let love, too, fly.