WERE I a boy, with a boy's heart-beat br At glimpse of her passing adown the street, br Of a room where she had entered and gone, br Or a page her hand had written on,-- br Would all be with me as it was before? br O no, never! no, no, never! br Never any more. br br Were I a man, with a man's pulse-throb, br Breath hard and fierce, held down like a sob, br Dumb, yet hearing her lightest word, br Blind, until only her garment stirred: br Would I pour my life like wine on her floor? br No, no, never: never, never! br Never any more. br br Gray and withered, wrinkled and marred, br I have gone through the fire and come out unscarred, br With the image of manhood upon me yet, br No shame to remember, no wish to forget: br But could she rekindle the pangs I bore?-- br O no, never! thank God, never! br Never any more. br br Old and wrinkled, withered and gray,-- br And yet if her light step passed to-day, br I should see her face all faces among, br And say,--'Heaven love thee, whom I loved long! br Thou hast lost the key of my heart's door, br Lost it ever, and forever, br Ay, forevermore.