Absence and Presence, born of elder Night,
O'er common mortals hold a common sway;
Absence alights when Presence takes her flight,
Presence presides when Absence is away.
O'er life's dull ocean, borne with steady sails,
Alike, as brother oft resembles brother;
By cold indifference pois'd in equal scales,
The one may well pass current for the other.
But (thee once known) what heart can ever know,
Oblivion, weed that rots on Lethe's wharf?
Presence dispensing joy, and Absence wo,
This soars a giant, and that droops a dwarf.
Oh! disproportioned size of joy and grief,
Absence, how endless long, and Presence brief!

Thou'lt still survive, when I to time shall bow,
When my leaves scatter'd lie, thy rose will bloom;
Thou'lt walk the earth, alert as thou art now,
When I am mould'ring in the silent tomb;
My face, my form, traced by the graver's tool,
Thou holdest: hold them then; and, with a sigh,
When shadowing night shall o'er the welkin rule,
Bethink thee, musing, of the days gone by.
Be not too happy, or my jealous sprite
Shall deem thy laughter light, thy spirits folly:
But, gazing on my portraiture, unite
Serene content with sober melancholy,
And cast, in thy belov'd sobriety,
Some thoughts on him whose all thoughts dwelt on thee.