Disenchantment

Time and I have fallen out;      We, who were such steadfast friends.      So slowly has it come about      That none may tell when it began;      Yet sure am I a cunning plan      Runs through it all;      And now, beyond recall,      Our friendship ends,      And ending, there remains to me      The memory of disloyalty.      Long years ago Time tripping came      With promise grand,      And sweet assurances of fame;      And hand in hand      Through fairy-land      Went he and I together      In bright and golden weather.      Then, then I had not learned to doubt,      For friends were gods, and faith was sure,      And words were truth, and deeds were pure,      Before we had our falling out;      And life, all hope, was fair to see,      When Time made promise sweet to me.      When first my faithless friend grew cold      I sought to knit a closer bond,      But he, less fond,      Sad days and years upon me rolled,      Pressed me with care,      With envy tinged the boyhood hair,      And ploughed unwelcome furrows in      Where none had been.      In vain I begged with trembling lip      For our old sweet companionship,      And saw, 'mid prayers and tears devout,      The presage of our falling out.      And now I know Time has no friends,      Nor pity lends,      But touches all      With heavy finger soon or late;      And as we wait      The Reaper's call,      The sickle's fatal sweep,      We strive in vain to keep      One truth inviolate,      One cherished fancy free from doubt.      It was not so      Long years ago,      Before we had our falling out.      If Time would come again to me,      And once more take me by the hand      For golden walks through fairy-land,      I could forgive the treachery      That stole my youth      And what of truth      Was mine to know;      Nor would I more his love misdoubt;      And I would throw      My arms around him so,      That he'd forgive the falling out!