Poems (Kimball)/Friends
For works with similar titles, see Friends.
FRIENDS.
to cara.
THERE is only the river between us, dear, And we can come and go, And though you are there and I am here I am filled with content, for I know You are moving brightly about the house Busy with many a task, And often alone in your fair sweet room In the morning light or the evening gloom You think of me, You pray for me, And, oh, what more can I ask!
Daily, indeed, I wish you were here, And when I am doubtful or vexed I long for your counsels calm and clear, But I do the thing that lies next, And He who is more than any friend Makes everything easy and straight, And it is not so hard as I feared to go In the way untried, and as long as I know You think of me And you pray for me, For everything else I can wait.
Some day I shall go to her I say, Or she will come over to me; In a little space I shall see her face, This very day it may be. So I will not mind the things unkind, The bitter that might be sweet But strive with a better braver heart To fight the good fight and bear my part, While she thinks of me And prays for me, And very soot we shall meet.
Sometimes I ponder how it will be When you drift to some home afar;And sometimes how when you are gone Where the saints and angels When another river shall flow between That never can be recrossed;But still I say, whatever betide, Though earth may part us or death divide, She will think of me, She will pray for me; My friend can never be lost.
For friendship to live must be to love To remember must be to pray So living or dying your prayers must be mine And mine must be yours alway. And, oh, in the light of Paradise, Most faithful of friends, most dear, Unhindered by weakness or doubt, and wise With the wisdom that sees not with earthly eyes, It surely must be You will pray for me As you could not pray for me here!