Poems (Barker)/In Memory of a Friend

by Alice J. Green Barker

In Memory of a Friend.

Looking down the meadow path
 Fancy's pencil paints for me,
Form so manly, face so fair,
 O! how plainly I can see;
As with light and careless step,
 He has passed the grassy floor,
And the bright face, wreathed in smiles
 See I, in the open door.

Never up the meadow path
 Through the pleasant summer eve,
When the harvest work is done,
 Garnered all the golden sheaves,
Shall we see the manly form,
 Shall we see the sunlit face,
And we'll miss our winsome friend
 In each dear accustomed place.

Never down the meadow path
 When the evening sun has set,
And upon the peaceful world,
 Gleams of brightness linger yet.
Shall the rippling laughter sound,
 Shall the merry voice be heard;
It had music in its tone,
 Like the trill of some sweet bird.

Never in the open door,
 Shall we frame the sunny face;
Never from the manly brow,
 All the clouds of sadness chase.
Never hear the tender voice
 Mingling tones of joy and mirth;
When he passed from us away,
 Much of brightness left the earth.

When life's summer work is o'er—
 Garnered all the golden sheaves,
And we weave a glorious crown
 Out of autumn's sunset leaves.
Mong the happy scenes of Heaven
 Where there is no thought of pain;
We shall see the bright young face,
 We shall greet our friend again.