Cease smiling, Dear! a little while be sad, <br />Here in the silence, under the wan moon; <br />Sweet are thine eyes, but how can I be glad, <br />Knowing they change so soon? <br /> <br />For Love's sake, Dear, be silent! Cover me <br />In the deep darkness of thy falling hair: <br />Fear is upon me and the memory <br />Of what is all men's share. <br /> <br />O could this moment be perpetuate! <br />Must we grow old, and leaden-eyed and gray, <br />And taste no more the wild and passionate <br />Love sorrows of to-day? <br /> <br />Grown old, and faded, Sweet! and past desire, <br />Let memory die, lest there be too much ruth, <br />Remembering the old, extinguished fire <br />Of our divine, lost youth. <br /> <br />O red pomegranate of thy perfect mouth! <br />My lips' life-fruitage, might I taste and die <br />Here in thy garden, where the scented south <br />Wind chastens agony; <br /> <br />Reap death from thy live lips in one long kiss, <br />And look my last into thine eyes and rest: <br />What sweets had life to me sweeter than this <br />Swift dying on thy breast? <br /> <br />Or, if that may not be, for Love's sake, Dear! <br />Keep silence still, and dream that we shall lie, <br />Red mouth to mouth, entwined, and always hear <br />The south wind's melody, <br /> <br />Here in thy garden, through the sighing boughs, <br />Beyond the reach of time and chance and change, <br />And bitter life and death, and broken vows, <br />That sadden and estrange.<br /><br />Ernest Christopher Dowson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/cease-smilng-dear-a-little-while-be-sad/