OLD mate, who long hast friended me Through many a shift of rain and sun, Now that the journey's well-nigh done, The wear and tear of Time, I see, Threaten a breach 'twixt me and thee. For I am strong, as ne'er before, While thou art waxen spent, and weak; The touch of tears is on thy cheek, Thy gait is limp, thy locks are hoar, The latch is broken at thy door. Yet burns full bright my lamp within: When it is quenched, what wilt thou do? Dear comrade of the dusk and dew, Thou fellow-wrestler against sin In conflicts that God helped us win. To say good-by, I can not bear; By all the bonds of brotherhood, If I encounter any good Whither I go, 'tis thine to share, -- Boon friends together, Here or There! So, till our parting shall take place, I hold this sacred hope the while, To light my sorrow with a smile: That, when I soar and sing in space, I may behold thee face to face! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BRIDAL SONG by GEORGE CHAPMAN (1559-1634) BLACK AND BLUE EYES by THOMAS MOORE AGAMEMNON: HELEN. CHORUS by AESCHYLUS THE METAMORPHOSIS OF THE WALNUT-TREE OF BOARSTELL: CANTO 3 by WILLIAM BASSE DER TAG: NELSON AND BEATTY by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES JOHN MASEFIELD by AMY SHERMAN BRIDGMAN |