Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ADIEU, TO A FRIEND LEAVING SUFFOLK, by BERNARD BARTON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ADIEU, TO A FRIEND LEAVING SUFFOLK, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Farewell! And oh! If aught of grief
Last Line: And we may meet more dear than ever.
Alternate Author Name(s): Quaker Poet
Subject(s): Farewell; Parting


FAREWELL! and oh! if aught of grief
Shall mingle with thy last adieu,
May it at least afford relief,
That those thou leav'st partake it too.

Though weeks have pass'd uncounted by,
Thy presence has not taught us yet
To feel, with thee, satiety;
Or part with thee, without regret.

But in exact proportion to
Our past enjoyments—present pain,
Arises, while we bid adieu!
The hope that we shall meet again.

Is it not meet it thus should be,
That light and shade should mingle thus;
When we must lose a friend like thee,
And thou, awhile, must part from us?

Yes, surely.—Nor could friendship ask
A stronger test, her power to tell,
Than, that it should be felt a task,
A painful one, to say farewell!

Yet not a painful one alone;
For our regrets a pledge shall give,
That days and hours, too swiftly flown,
In cherish'd memory long shall live.

Then let our parting hour befit
The happy ones that we have spent;
Though grave, let grief not darken it
With aught like thankless discontent.

'Tis something to have shar'd so much
Of joy, that FRIENDS alone can know:
'Tis more to feel we part as such,
Aye! render'd more than ever so.

But oh! it is more soothing still,
To feel a fond hope, when we sever,
Absence can not affection chill,
And we may meet more dear than ever.





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