Sweet memory, like a pleasing dream, <br />Still lends a dull and feeble ray; <br />For ages with her vestige teems, <br />When beauty's trace is worn away. <br /> <br />When pleasure, with her harps unstrung, <br />Sits silent to be heard no more, <br />Or leaves them on the willows hung, <br />And pass-time glee forever o'er; <br /> <br />Still back in smiles thy glory steals <br />With ev'ning dew drops from thine eye; <br />The twilight bursting from thy wheels, <br />Ascends and bids oblivion fly. <br /> <br />Memory, thy bush prevails to bloom, <br />Design'd to fade, no, never, never, <br />Will stamp thy vestige on the tomb, <br />And bid th' immortal live forever. <br /> <br />When youth's bright sun has once declined <br />And bid his smiling day expire, <br />Mem'ry, thy torch steals up behind, <br />And sets thy hidden stars on fire.<br /><br />George Moses Horton<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/memory-127/
