Poems (Barker)/To Mr. and Mrs. E Reckord

by Alice J. Green Barker

To Mr. and Mrs. E. Reckord.

ON THEIR FIFTIETH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.
———
For fifty years, oh, parents dear,
You've walked the path of life together:
Some days the sun has brightly shone,
Some days were dark with cloudy weather,
Sometimes the birds sang o'er your heads,
And all was bright with summer gladness;
Sometimes the road was hard and rough,
Each wind a dirge of autumn sadness.

For fifty years a goodly time—
Your hearts have throbbed for one another,
Your children looking on your lives
Say, Heaven bless you, father, mother,
How true your aim—it reaches out.
Far into time, beyond our seeing,
The crown of fifty well spent years
From every dross and soul cloud treeing.

A mother's prayers like incense rise
Until they reach the gate of Heaven.
A father's counsel, good and wise,
With fond and loving patience given,
Sweet memories these for us to bear
These blossoms bright beside you growing,
Their perfume lingers in your hearts
The blessing of your own good sowing.

For fifty years—the Lord is good
Who holds this chain of golden brightness.
Each year a link that nearer draws
Your souls to Heaven's eternal whiteness,
That purity of which we dream,
But see not with our sin dimmed vision
Until for us the gates shall ope
Into the light of love Elysian,

Dear parents, may the rest of life
Hold only joy, and peace, and pleasure,
The Master with his generous hand
Fill up for you a goodly measure.
For fifty years, oh, loving hearts,
You've walked the path of life together;
God grant the years that lie in wait,
Hold for you only sunny weather.