Life, I Know Not What Thou Art

Life! I know not what thou art.

But know that thou and I must part;

And when, or how, or where we met,

I own to me's a secret yet.

Life! we've been long together

Through pleasant and through cloudy weather;

Tis hard to part when friends are dear—

Perhaps 'twill cost a sigh, a tear;

—Then steal away, give little warning,

Choose thine own time;

Say not Good Night,—but in some brighter clime

Bid me Good Morning.

A.L. Barbauld.