Poems (Jackson)/My New Friend
MY NEW FRIEND.
SHALLOW voice said, bitterly, "New friend!"As if the old alone were true, and, bornOf sudden freak, the new deserved but scorn.And deep distrust.And deep distrust.If love could condescend,What scorn in turn! Do men old garments mendWith new? And put the new wine, red at morn,Into the last year's bottles, thin and worn?But love and loving need not to defendThemselves. The new is older than the old;And newest friend is oldest friend in this,That, waiting him, we longest grieved to missOne thing we sought.One thing we sought.I think when we beholdFull Heaven, we say not, "Why was this not told?"But, "Ah! For years we 've waited for this bliss!"