Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IN MEMORY OF TWO FRIENDS: 2. T. LL. T., by LEWIS MORRIS (1833-1907)


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IN MEMORY OF TWO FRIENDS: 2. T. LL. T., by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Good friend, whose heart, whose muse refined
Last Line: This votive wreath of musing song.
Subject(s): Death; Friendship; Poetry & Poets; Dead, The


GOOD Friend, whose heart, whose Muse refined,
Were to our Isis faithful yet,
I praise thee with a willing mind
Ere the world hastens to forget.

Thou as befits our tuneful race
Wert touched in youth with Bardic fire,
The Cymric melody and grace
Thy young ambition did inspire.

Long since in thy successful song
The Toiler's praise thou didst rehearse,
Winning by sympathetic verse
The plaudits of the lettered throng.

Fair gift by work's unchanging round
Thro' all thy later years represt;
Thou hidd'st, by lifelong fetters bound,
The fire scarce kindled in thy breast.

And better thus maybe to bear
Duty's dull burden to the end,
The Teacher's crown of work to wear
That in each Learner gains a friend.

Beside life's duteous liturgies
What profits rank or wealth or name?
A brighter lustre shines on these
Than on the pinnacles of Fame.

Far better to have won the love
By faithful work, of old and young,
Than the admiring throng to move
By song as sweet as Bard has sung.

So I who knew thee well and long,
I whose sole gift it is to sing,
To these memorial pages bring
This votive wreath of musing song.





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