Remembrance

Why should we dream of days gone by?
  Why should we wait and wonder?
Sweet summer days have come and gone,
  The leaves are falling yonder.
The wee sweet flowers we loved the best,
  The king of frost has chosen;
And now the sun looks sadly down
  Upon his darlings frozen.
Ah! summer sun and autumn frost,
  You are at war forever;
For all the ties that one would make
  The other fain would sever.
With autumn days remembrance comes
  Of golden glories fleeting;
Of pleasures gone and sorrows come—
  Of parting and of meeting.
Oh! summer days, why haunt us still?
  Remembrance is a sorrow;
And all the dreams we dream to-day
  Will fade upon the morrow.
Each life has some sweet summer-time,
  Some perfect day of beauty;
When flowers of love and leaves of hope
  Are twined around each duty.
But oh! the autumn-time will come,
  Which fades each golden glory;
And life, when we are old and gray,
  Seems but a sad, old story.

Form: Lyric Comments

Comments About This Poem

Share your interpretation, favorite passage, or thoughts about this famous poem. Please provide an in-depth and meaningful comment.

  • What do you think the poet was trying to say?
  • Which line had the biggest impact on you?
  • How does this poem relate to modern life?
  • What literary devices did you notice?
No comments have been posted yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace