Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms

This beautiful, renowned, and much loved Irish song begins my fact-based novel,

Of Bliss and Granted Wishes, and plays a significant part in the story.

Here are the lyrics by Thomas Moore, Ireland's greatest poet. He wrote them for his wife.

Believe me, if all those endearing young charms,

Which I gaze on so fondly today,

Were to change by tomorrow, and fleet in my arms,

Like faerie-gifts fading away,

Thou would'st still be adored, as this moment thou art,

Let thy loveliness fade as it will,

And around the dear ruin each wish of my heart

Would entwine itself verdantly still.

It is not while beauty and youth are thine own,

And thy cheeks unprofaned by a tear

That the fervour and faith of a soul can be known,

To which Time will but make thee more dear;

No, the heart that has truly loved never forgets,

But as truly loves on to the close,

As the sunflower turns on her god when he sets,

The same look which she gave when he rose.