Classic Poem

" GOOD-BY, my friend! "
He takes her hand —
The pressures blend:
They understand
But vaguely why, with drooping eye,
Each moans — " Good-by! — Good-by! "

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

" " Good-by?" Ah, no:
I hate, " says he,
" These " good-bys" so! "
" And I , " says she,
" Detest them so — why, I should die
Were this a real " good-by"! "