At such an hour it cannot deem that voice is cold and strange,
In such an hour it will forget that hearts like thine can change.
No—never, it shall not be so—the thought is burning pain,
Which like the levin’s blighting fire comes crushing through my brain;
It cannot be our friendship’s bright and glowing dream is o’er,
It must not be that we shall meet as we have met no more.
Have I offended?—then forgive—’twill be the nobler part—
And oh, forget that I have wronged thy warm and generous heart,
For careless words though lightly said come keenly to the mind,
To chill its glowing depths with tones like winter’s frozen wind.