138
TO A FRIEND.
Hath been to me for music; bringing round
Kind eyes that looked on me, kind hands I found
Outstretched to help me over pathways drear;
And some of these are far, and some are near,
And some are in the Heavens, but all are dear
In God, who gave them to me; so this "Friend"
Is like a full-stringed chord, that still doth seem
Within its sound to gather up and blend
All, all that life in other lives that takes
Away Life's curse of barrenness, and makes
Our Being's sweet and often-troubled dream!
Kind eyes that looked on me, kind hands I found
Outstretched to help me over pathways drear;
And some of these are far, and some are near,
And some are in the Heavens, but all are dear
In God, who gave them to me; so this "Friend"
Is like a full-stringed chord, that still doth seem
Within its sound to gather up and blend
All, all that life in other lives that takes
Away Life's curse of barrenness, and makes
Our Being's sweet and often-troubled dream!
I never used it lightly; unto me
A sacredness hung round it; for a Sign
I held it of our common words that be
Initial letters of a speech divine:
Oh, take this coin, too oft to worthless ends
Profaned, and see upon its circlet shine
One Image fair—one Legend never dim;
And Whose but Caesar's? for this word by Him
Was used at parting, "I have called you Friends."
A sacredness hung round it; for a Sign
I held it of our common words that be
Initial letters of a speech divine:
Oh, take this coin, too oft to worthless ends
Profaned, and see upon its circlet shine
One Image fair—one Legend never dim;
And Whose but Caesar's? for this word by Him
Was used at parting, "I have called you Friends."
