To a Portrait

Arthur Symons (1865–1945)

A PENSIVE photograph

Watches me from the shelf—

Ghost of old love, and half

Ghost of myself!

How the dear waiting eyes

Watch me and love me yet—

Sad home of memories,

Her waiting eyes!

Ghost of old love, wronged ghost,

Return: though all the pain

Of all once loved, long lost,

Come back again.

Forget not, but forgive!

Alas, too late I cry.

We are two ghosts that had their chance to live,

And lost it, she and I.