Christina Rossetti

Remember me when I am gone away,

Gone far away into the silent land;

When you can no more hold me by the hand,

Nor I half turn to go yet, turning stay.

Remember me when no more day by day

You tell me of our future that you plann’d:

Only remember me; you understand

It will be late to counsel then or pray.

Yet if you should forget me for a while

And afterwards remember, do not grieve:

For if the darkness and corruption leave

A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,

Better by far you should forget and smile

Than that you should remember and be sad.

Christina Rossetti (1830 – 1894)

Does the road wind up hill all the way?

Yes, to the very end.

Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?

From morn to night, my friend.

But is there for the night a resting-place?

A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.

May not the darkness hide it from my face?

You cannot miss that inn.

Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?

Those who have gone before.

Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?

They will not keep you standing at that door.

Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weary?

Of labour you shall find the sum.

Will there be beds for me and all who seek?

Yes, beds for all who come.

Christina Rossetti (1830 – 1894)

The wind shall lull us yet,

The flowers shall spring above us:

And those who hate forget,

And those forgot who love us.

The pulse of hope shall cease,

Of joy and of regretting:

We twain shall sleep in peace,

Forgotten and forgetting.

For us no sun shall rise,

Nor wind rejoice, nor river,

Where we with fast-closed eyes

Shall sleep and sleep for ever.

Christina Rossetti (1830 – 1894)