Remember

Remember me when I am gone away,
     Gone far away into the silent land;
     When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Not I half turning to go, yet turning to stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
     You tell me of our future that you planned:
     Only remember me; you understand
It will be too late to counsel or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
     And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
     For if the darkness and corruption leave
     A vestige of thoughts I once had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
     Than that you should remember and be sad.

Christina Georgina Rossetti