Poems (Markham)/Friendship

by Elizabeth Markham

For works with similar titles, see Friendship.

Friendship

The rosy dreams of life may change,
 And death may bring affliction;
True friendship with her arms of love
 May hold us up from sinking.
  And friendship is a fountain where
  Springs up a Heaven-born treasure;
  The heart o'ercharged with grief and care
  Count her a priceless treasure.

Give us old friends with kindred minds,
 Tho' far from home we are straying;
Tho' fortune frown and wealth decline,
 We'll grieve not their decaying.
  Tho' youth and beauty fade so soon,
  And death would seem so near us;
  Our morning sun go down at noon—
  May friends be there to cheer us.

Within the altar of our hearts
 Our God to man has given
The richest germ he could impart
 To be matured in Heaven.
  Let others stretch their tiny arms
  And grasp for fame so fleeting;
  For me, I own the blissful charms
  Of Friendship's holy greeting.

Oh what of all those lordly halls,
 Or elevated stations?
We ask no stronger, safer walls
 Around our habitations
  Than friendship's star whose radiant beams
  Our feeble steps attending;
  Or golden crowns all set with pearls,
  Their various colors blending.

And when the sands of life have run—
 Our feeble voices failing,
Our labors and our toils are done,
 And we are homeward tending.
  When time with us draws near the close
  And all our days are numbered,
  Our hearts forgiving all our foes
  Lie down in dreamless slumber,

May loving friends stand round our bed
 To soothe our dying pillow,
And Jesus hold our sinking head
 While crossing Jordan's billow.
E. M.
Oregon Statesman, June 13, 1851.