Poems (Holmes)/Dost thou remember Me?

Dost thou Remember Me?

When shades of sorrow cloud my brow,
And anguish wrings my heart,
With fond regret, I think of thee,
And wonder where thou art.
When twilight sheds its rosy hue
In silence o'er the sea,
My heart in deepest sadness asks,
Dost thou remember me?

And when the wild, wild tempest howls,
And dashing breakers roar,
Borne on the winds I seem to hear
A voice I've heard before;
And when the spot where last we met
I chance at eve to see,
I more and more desire to know,
Dost thou remember me?

Or when in pensive mood I stray,
To watch the ebbing tide,
I seem to hear thy footsteps fall,
And think thee near my side.
But when thy name I fondly call,
An echo o'er the sea
Brings back the one unchanging thought,
Dost thou remember me?

And when celestial spirits wait
To bear on wings of love
The vesper-song which mortals chant
To Him who reigns above;
Oh, in that sweet and hallowed hour
My thoughts recur to thee,
And fondly, fondly do I trust
Thou dost remember me.

And when upon my vision steals
The first soft gleam of day,
And insect music thrills the air,
And birds their homage pay;
I from my dreamy slumber rise,
And watching angels flee,
But whisper, as they soar away,
Thou dost remember me.

In joy, in grief,—at eve, at morn,
And all the livelong day,
My heart with pure affection beats
For thee, though far away;
And with my last expiring breath
I'll offer prayer for thee,
And trust that, in thy latest hours,
Thou wilt remember me.