A Good-Bye

“Good-bye, my friend!” He takes her hand— The pressures blend: They understand But vaguely why, with drooping eye, Each moans—“Good-bye!—Good-bye!”

“Dear friend, good-bye!” O she could smile If she might cry A little while!— She says, “I ought to smile—but I— Forgive me—There!—Good-bye!”

“‘Good-bye?’ Ah, no: I hate,” says he, “These ‘good-byes’ so!” “And I,” says she, “Detest them so—why, I should die Were this a real ‘good-bye!’”