SHE gathered at her slender waist br The beauteous robe she wore; br Its folds a golden belt embraced, br One rose-hued gem it bore. br br The girdle shrank; its lessening round br Still kept the shining gem, br But now her flowing locks it bound, br A lustrous diadem. br br And narrower still the circlet grew; br Behold! a glittering band, br Its roseate diamond set anew, br Her neck's white column spanned. br br Suns rise and set; the straining clasp br The shortened links resist, br Yet flashes in a bracelet's grasp br The diamond, on her wrist. br br At length, the round of changes past br The thieving years could bring, br The jewel, glittering to the last, br Still sparkles in a ring. br br So, link by link, our friendships part, br So loosen, break, and fall, br A narrowing zone; the loving heart br Lives changeless through them all.