Poems (Barker)/To my Dear Parents
To my Dear Parents
ON THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR WEDDING.
Five and twenty years dear parents.
Have you journeyed hand in hand,
Growing nearer to each other
As you neared the "better land."
Five and twenty years dear parents
With their share of sunshine bright,
Clouded sometimes, but with darkness
That foretells a purer light.
Five and twenty years dear parents.
Have you journeyed hand in hand,
Growing nearer to each other
As you neared the "better land."
Five and twenty years dear parents
With their share of sunshine bright,
Clouded sometimes, but with darkness
That foretells a purer light.
Five and twenty years of loving
As the angels love in Heaven,
Pure, unselfish, selfdenying
To your true hearts have been given.
Looking backward through the vista
Of these five and twenty years,
Gladdened by your true affection
See you more of smiles than tears.
As the angels love in Heaven,
Pure, unselfish, selfdenying
To your true hearts have been given.
Looking backward through the vista
Of these five and twenty years,
Gladdened by your true affection
See you more of smiles than tears.
Two dear children to you given
In these five and twenty years,
Both have left you—fully freighted
With the love that still endears.
Both have left you—but the sunshine
Of that home will e'er remain,
Filing both our hearts with gladness,
Driving out life's care and pain.
In these five and twenty years,
Both have left you—fully freighted
With the love that still endears.
Both have left you—but the sunshine
Of that home will e'er remain,
Filing both our hearts with gladness,
Driving out life's care and pain.
For that home your hands have finished,
Fitted up with tender care
Decked with gems of love and patience,
Filled with sunshine every where,
Shall be something to your children,
That shall never pass from sight,
'Till our eyes have closed forever,
On all scenes of death and night.
Fitted up with tender care
Decked with gems of love and patience,
Filled with sunshine every where,
Shall be something to your children,
That shall never pass from sight,
'Till our eyes have closed forever,
On all scenes of death and night.
It shall be a light to guide us,
Growing brighter ever more,
Sent to save our barks from dashing,
'Gainst some dark and rocky shore.
Blessed parents, may the future
Glide a bright and peaceful stream,
Living nearer to each other,
Blending like a happy dream.
Growing brighter ever more,
Sent to save our barks from dashing,
'Gainst some dark and rocky shore.
Blessed parents, may the future
Glide a bright and peaceful stream,
Living nearer to each other,
Blending like a happy dream.
Tender husband, breathing softly,
Words as gentle, fond, and low,
As the ones your proud lips whispered,
Five and twenty years ago,
When you promised to protect her,
And to cherish all your life,
Blessed was that promise given--
Kept so sacred to your wife.
Words as gentle, fond, and low,
As the ones your proud lips whispered,
Five and twenty years ago,
When you promised to protect her,
And to cherish all your life,
Blessed was that promise given--
Kept so sacred to your wife.
Patient wife, and tender mother,
Noble father, husband true,
Far beyond this life, another,
Purer, better waits for you.
And the seeds your hands have scattered,
All along life's rugged way,
Shall spring up in perfect beauty,
"Brighter than the brightest day.
Noble father, husband true,
Far beyond this life, another,
Purer, better waits for you.
And the seeds your hands have scattered,
All along life's rugged way,
Shall spring up in perfect beauty,
"Brighter than the brightest day.
Five and twenty years, all shining,
With good deeds and acts of love,
Surely all will be recorded,
In the book of life above.
Five and twenty years dear parents,
Have you journeyed, hand in hand,
Growing nearer to each other,
As you neared the "better lands."
With good deeds and acts of love,
Surely all will be recorded,
In the book of life above.
Five and twenty years dear parents,
Have you journeyed, hand in hand,
Growing nearer to each other,
As you neared the "better lands."