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THE DIFFERENCE
On what fair isle that no rude seas may whelm,
Dost thou, O brother, find thy home to-night?
Dost thou, O brother, find thy home to-night?
Or art thou near us? There are those who say
That but a breath divides our world from thine;
A little cloud that may be blown away—
A gossamer veil than spider's web more fine.
That but a breath divides our world from thine;
A little cloud that may be blown away—
A gossamer veil than spider's web more fine.
Dost thou, a shadowy presence, linger near
The happy paths that thou wert wont to tread,
Where woods were still, and shining brooks ran clear,
And waving boughs arched greenly overhead?
The happy paths that thou wert wont to tread,
Where woods were still, and shining brooks ran clear,
And waving boughs arched greenly overhead?
Oh! be thou far or near, it is the same!
From thee there floats no message thro' the air;
No glad "All's well" comes to us in thy name
That we the joy of thy new life may share!
From thee there floats no message thro' the air;
No glad "All's well" comes to us in thy name
That we the joy of thy new life may share!
