Poems (McDonald)/To a Friend at Parting

by Mary Noel McDonald

TO A FRIEND AT PARTING.

  Think of me—when?
Just at the gentle twilight hour,
When the dew is falling on leaf and flower,
When birds to their quiet nests have gone,
And the summer night comes softly on,
  Think of me then.

  Think of me—when?
As thou art roving through pleasant glades,
Or wandering 'mid the deep forest shades,
Gazing on flower, and field, and tree,
Let thy thoughts turn for awhile to me—
  Think of me then.

  Think of me—when?
As some sweet strain we have loved to hear,
Comes with a pathos deep to thine ear,
And a soft note over thy senses flung,
Brings back the time when that lay was sung,
  Think of me then.

  Think of me—when?
In the early hours of the summer morn,
When no rude sounds on the breeze are borne,
When all is balmy, and sweet, and still,
And the mists are rising from stream and hill,
  Think of me then.

  Think of me—when?
At that lone hour, when on bended knee,
Thou art breathing a prayer to the Deity,
That all whom thou lovest he may defend,
Oh, ask some boon for thy distant friend—
  Think of me then.