Classic and Contemporary Poetry
VERSES TO MY HEART'S-SISTER, by HENRIETTA CORDELIA RAY Poet's Biography First Line: We've traveled long together Last Line: Forever and for aye! Alternate Author Name(s): Ray, Cordelia Subject(s): African Americans - Women | ||||||||
We've traveled long together, O sister of my heart, Since first as little children All buoyant, we did start Upon Life's checkered pathway, Nor dreamed of aught save joy; But ah! To-day can tell us Naught is without alloy. Rememb'rest thou the gambols Of those sweet, early days, When siren Fancy showed us Our dreams through golden haze? Ah, well thou dost remember The mirth we then did share, The sports, the tasks, the music, The all-embracing prayer. Somehow my own sweet sister, Our heart-strings early twined; Some rare bond of affection Of tastes and aims combined; Made us, e'en in our Springtime, Soul-sisters fond and leal; And how that love has strengthened The years can well reveal. We've seen our loved ones vanish Far from our yearning gaze, Into the peace of Heaven. O those sad, saddest days, When we two clung together, So lonely and forlorn, With our crushed hearts all quiv'ring, All bruised, and scarred and torn. So nearer clung we, sister, And loved each other more; The tendrils of our natures Twined closer than before. We could speak to no other Of those sweet, holy things, So tender yet so nameless, Which sorrow often brings. The troubles that have thickened Around our daily path, We've borne together, sister, And oft when courage hath Grown feeble, and the future Was dark with naught of cheer, Could one have faced the conflict Without the other near? And sister, dear Heart's-Sister, When all the mystery Of this strange life is ended In Immortality, We'll love each other dearly As now we do, and more; For sacred things in Heaven Grow richer than before. And shall not those sweet loved ones Missed here so long! so long! Join with us in the music Of an all-perfect song? We feel a gladder cadence Will thrill their rapt'rous strain, When we are with them, sister, All, ne'er to part again! So now as here we linger, May ours be happy days! O generous-hearted sister, In all Life's winding ways May we have joy together! And this I fondly pray, -- God bless thee, dear Heart's-Sister! Forever and for aye! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BLACK WOMAN by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON FOREDOOM by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON WHO SAID IT WAS SIMPLE by AUDRE LORDE ELIZABETH KECKLEY: 30 YEARS A SLAVE AND 4 YEARS IN THE WHITE HOUSE by E. ETHELBERT MILLER ON DIVERSE DEVIATIONS by MAYA ANGELOU HYMN FOR LANIE POO by AMIRI BARAKA THE DREAM SONGS: 68 by JOHN BERRYMAN AFTER THE STORM by HENRIETTA CORDELIA RAY |
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