NEVER a ring or a lock of hair br Or a letter stained with tears, br No crown for the princely hour to wear, br To be mocked of the rebel years. br Not a spoken vow, not a written page br And never a rose or a rhyme br To tell to the wintry ear of age br The tale of the summer time. br br br Never a tear or a farewell kiss br When the time is come to part; br For the kiss would burn and the tear would hiss br On the smouldering fire in my heart.