The twentieth year is well nigh past, br Since first our sky was overcast; br Ah, would that this might be the last! br My Mary! br br Thy spirits have a fainter flow, br I see thee daily weaker grow- br 'Twas my distress that brought thee low, br My Mary! br br Thy needles, once a shining store, br For my sake restless heretofore, br Now rust disus'd, and shine no more, br My Mary! br br For though thou gladly wouldst fulfil br The same kind office for me still, br Thy sight now seconds not thy will, br My Mary! br br But well thou play'dst the housewife's part, br And all thy threads with magic art br Have wound themselves about this heart, br My Mary! br br Thy indistinct expressions seem br Like language utter'd in a dream; br Yet me they charm, whate'er the theme, br My Mary! br br Thy silver locks, once auburn bright, br Are still more lovely in my sight br Than golden beams of orient light, br My Mary! br br For, could I view nor them nor thee, br What sight worth seeing could I see? br The sun would rise in vain for me, br My Mary! br br Partakers of thy sad decline, br Thy hands their little force resign; br Yet gently press'd, press gently mine, br My Mary! br br Such feebleness of limbs thou prov'st, br That now at ev'ry step thou mov'st br Upheld by two; yet still thou lov'st, br My Mary! br br And still to love, though press'd with ill, br In wintry age to feel no chill, br With me is to be lovely still, br My Mary! br br But ah! by constant heed I know, br How oft the sadness that I show br Transforms thy smiles to looks of woe, br My Mary! br br And should my future lot be cast br With much resemblance of the past, br Thy worn-out heart will break at last, br My Mary!br br William Cowperbr br