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STANZAS TO A FRIEND, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Thou dost not need that verse of mine
Last Line: For soothing thoughts, a theme in thee!
Alternate Author Name(s): Quaker Poet
Subject(s): Friendship


THOU dost not need that verse of mine
Should speak my thanks, or paint thy worth;
And yet a friendship firm as thine
May bear what gratitude gives birth.

Thou art not like those flowers that ask
The aid of art, as frail as fair;
Which in conservatories bask,
But wither in the open air:

These stem no storm, and brook no blast;
Though bright their blossoming may be;
Their perfume pleases, and is past;
And can such things be types of thee?

They cannot! But I've seen, ere now,
On some wild ruin, moss'd and grey;
A flower as fair, as sweet as thou,
Blessing with bloom its latest day.

And while its loveliness has lent
Fresh beauty to that mouldering wall,
It seem'd as if its sweets were sent
To make up for the loss of all.

The winds might howl, the ruin rock;
It flourish'd fearlessly, and fair;
It shrunk not from the impending shock;
It spoke defiance to despair.

And thus, in seasons dark and drear,
When I have felt, how oft, alas!
With many a mute, foreboding fear,
The ruin of what once I was;

Thy friendship, like that faithful flower,
Surviving much, defying all,
Has caus'd on sorrow's saddest hour
Some streaks of happier hue to fall.

Heaven bless thee for it! and believe
That he who bids the gentle dew
Refresh the wall-flower every eve,
And morning sunbeams warm it too;

O doubt not HE will doubly bless
What purest friendship hath inspir'd;
And, for its worth, and faithfulness,
Return what it hath not requir'd.

And long may I, by fate bereft
Of much, most justly dear to me;
Still fondly learn its frowns have left
For soothing thoughts, a theme in thee!





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