Townley Benson

Not Quite Forgotten

by William Townley Benson

"Not quite forgotten, tho' the years endeavour
  To fling a veil between thy soul and mine;
Deep in mine heart thy memory liveth ever,
  By tears and smiles unaltered is thy shrine.

Not quite forgotten, Oh thou first and fairest
  Of all my day dreams!  Thou who yet must be
Trusted in longest and still loved the dearest
 Forgotten!  There is no such word for thee.

Not quite forgotten, for thy dear reflection
  Undimm'd in memory ever must remain:
And there are times when all the old affection
  Which I have borne thee surges back again.

No, not forgotten, for a chance resemblance
  A voice that rings as thine hath rung of old,
Will bring thee back to my remembrance,
  And reproduce the past a thousand fold.

Faint as the fragrance of a flower long gather'd-
  Such is the love I bear thee, and no sin
I count it, for its passion long since wither'd,
  And now 'tis love with nought of earth therein."

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