When We Two Parted

by George Gordon, Lord Byron

When we two parted 

   In silence and tears,

Half broken-hearted 

   To sever for years,

Pale grew thy cheek and cold, 

   Colder thy kiss;

Truly that hour foretold 

   Sorrow to this.



The dew of the morning 

   Sunk chill on my brow-- 

It felt like the warning

   Of what I feel now.

Thy vows are all broken, 

   And light is thy fame;

I hear thy name spoken, 

   And share in its shame.



They name thee before me, 

   A knell to mine ear;

A shudder comes o'er me--

   Why wert thou so dear?

They know not I knew thee, 

   Who knew thee too well--

Long, long shall I rue thee, 

   Too deeply to tell.



In secret we met--

   In silence I grieve,

That thy heart could forget, 

   Thy spirit deceive.

If I should meet thee 

   After long years,

How should I greet thee?--

   With silence and tears.

A True Account of Talking to the Sun at Fire Island

by Frank O´Hara   

"Go back to sleep 

     now

Frank, and I may leave a tiny poem 

in that brain of yours as my farewell."



"Sun, don't go!"  I was awake 

at last.  "No, go I must, they're calling

me."  

       "Who are they?"

                              Rising he said "Some

day you'll know.  They're calling to you

too."  Darkly he rose, and then I slept.