I Remember, I Remember

I remember, I remember, 

The house where I was born, 

The little window where the sun 

Came peeping in at morn; 

He never came a wink too soon, 

Nor brought too long a day, 

But now, I often wish the night 

Had borne my breath away! 

I remember, I remember, 

The roses, red and white, 

The vi'lets, and the lily-cups, 

Those flowers made of light! 

The lilacs where the robin built, 

And where my brother set 

The laburnum on his birthday,— 

The tree is living yet! 

I remember, I remember, 

Where I was used to swing, 

And thought the air must rush as fresh 

To swallows on the wing; 

My spirit flew in feathers then, 

That is so heavy now, 

And summer pools could hardly cool 

The fever on my brow! 

I remember, I remember, 

The fir trees dark and high; 

I used to think their slender tops 

Were close against the sky: 

It was a childish ignorance, 

But now 'tis little joy 

To know I'm farther off from heav'n 

Than when I was a boy. 

~ Thomas Hood