Where the broad and sweeping river
Onward flows, and on forever,
Going but returning never--
There we met.
Golden was the bright October,
And, tho' summer's bloom was over,
Gorgeous tints with those more sober,
Mingled yet. Past us, swift and unreturning,
Rolled the waves in glory burning,
As the sun its broad face turning,
Looked on them.
And we watched the shadows creeping,
Watched them as the day retreating
Was the evening half-full meeting,
Like a friend. For a while we stood together--
Looking less upon the river
Than we looked upon each other,
In that hour.
And we thought less of the picture,
Mapped before our eyes in nature,
Than we did of the dim future
To be ours. 'Neath the evening skies we parted,
Vowing as the hot tears started,
To be true and honest hearted
To the last.
But the words you then repeated
Vanished with the years that fleeted,
Leaving mockeries that cheated,
In the past.