I dote on his very absence, and I wish them a fair departure.

I dote on his very absence, and I wish them a fair departure.

What shall I do with all the days and hours
That must be counted ere I see thy face?
read more

What shall I do with all the days and hours
That must be counted ere I see thy face?
How shall I charm the interval that lowers
Between this time and that sweet time of grace?

It takes time for the absent to assume their true shape in our thoughts. After death they take on a read more

It takes time for the absent to assume their true shape in our thoughts. After death they take on a firmer outline and then cease to change.

For with G.D., to be absent from the body is sometimes (not to
speak it profanely) to be present read more

For with G.D., to be absent from the body is sometimes (not to
speak it profanely) to be present with the Lord.

The absent are never without fault, nor the present without excuse.

The absent are never without fault, nor the present without excuse.

Wives in their husbands' absences grow subtler,
And daughters sometimes run off with the butler.

Wives in their husbands' absences grow subtler,
And daughters sometimes run off with the butler.

Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones, as
the wind extinguishes candles and fans a fire.
[Fr., read more

Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones, as
the wind extinguishes candles and fans a fire.
[Fr., L'absence diminue les mediocres passions et augmente les
grandes, comme le vent eteint les bougies et allume le feu.]

No friend to Love like a long voyage at sea.

No friend to Love like a long voyage at sea.

With what a deep devotedness of woe
I wept thy absence--o'er and o'er again
Thinking of thee, read more

With what a deep devotedness of woe
I wept thy absence--o'er and o'er again
Thinking of thee, still thee, till thought grew pain,
And memory, like a drop that, night and day,
Falls cold and ceaseless, wore my heart away!