When We Two Parted

Lord Byron was an English poet who wrote many beautiful poems.  "When We Two Parted" is a very sad and moving poem.  Here it is:

When We Two Parted

When we two parted
In silence and tears,
Half broken-hearted,
To sever for years,
Pale grew thy cheek and cold,
Colder thy kiss;
Truly that hour foretold
Sorrow to this.

The dew of the morning
Sank chill on my brow—
It felt like the warning
Of what I feel now.
Thy vows are all broken,
And light is thy fame:
I hear thy name spoken,
And share in its shame.

They name thee before me,
A knell to mine ear;
A shudder comes o'er me—
Why wert thou so dear?
They know not I knew thee,
Who knew thee too well:—
Long, long shall I rue thee
Too deeply to tell.

In secret we met—
In silence I grieve
That thy heart could forget,
Thy spirit deceive.
If I should meet thee
After long years,
How should I greet thee?—
With silence and tears.

This poem has four stanzas with eight verses in each. The rhyme scheme is regular. We notice that the even and odd verses of each stanza rhyme with one another.  In the second verse of the third stanza appears the word "knell." This means the bell which is rung to announce death. It is clear that two people have parted because one has met death.  "When We Two Parted" is a very powerful poem which expresses the love and sorrow of the narrator.