AND you could leave me now-- br After the first remembered whispered vow br Which sings for ever and ever in my ears-- br The vow which God among His Angels hears-- br After the long-drawn years, br The slow hard tears, br Could break new ground, and wake br A new strange garden to blossom for your sake, br And leave me here alone, br In the old garden that was once our own? br br How should I learn to bear br Our garden's pleasant ways and pleasant air, br Her flowers, her fruits, her lily, her rose and thorn, br When only in a picture these appear-- br These, once alive, and always over-dear? br Ah--think again: the rose you used to wear br Must still be more than other roses be br The flower of flowers. Ah, pity, pity me! br br For in my acres is no plot of ground br Whereon could any garden site be found, br I have but little skill br To water weed and till br And make the desert blossom like the rose; br Yet our old garden knows br If I have loved its ways and walks and kept br The garden watered, and the pleasance swept. br br Yet--if you must--go now: br Go, with my blessing filling both your hands, br And, mid the desert sands br Which life drifts deep round every garden wall, br Make your new festival br Of bud and blossom--red rose and green leaf. br No blight born of my grief br Shall touch your garden, love; but my heart's prayer br Shall draw down blessings on you from the air, br And all we learned of leaf and plant and tree br Shall serve you when you walk no more with me br In garden ways; and when with her you tread br The pleasant ways with blossoms overhead br And when she asks, 'How did you come to know br The secrets of the ways these green things grow?' br Then you will answer--and I, please God, hear, br 'I had another garden once, my dear'.