Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE CHAIN; TO C.H.P., by AUSTIN PHILIPS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE CHAIN; TO C.H.P., by                    
First Line: Brother of mine, it is good to think
Last Line: Lick round us and wrack us, oh, brother of mine!
Subject(s): Friendship; Relationships


BROTHER of Mine, it is good to think
And better to know that the splendid chain
We forged us of friendship, link by link,
Can never be sundered nor snapped in twain:
It was welded with laughter and cooled in wine,
And tested with talk that was straight and true,
And nothing was hidden, oh, Brother of Mine,
From the heart of me and the heart of you.

Our souls lay naked that each might see
The soul of his fellow, for seal and sign
Of the honest rogue that had made him free
Of his graceless bosom, oh, Brother of Mine:
When the wine was poured, and the cords of speech
Were loosed, and the goal of us both made plain,
It was then that we forged us, each for each,
Oh, Brother of Mine, that splendid chain.

Though the cups be empty, the wine all shed,
And the heart's desire be outworn and vain,
Though the goals be gone and the aims be dead,
And time and travail have stretched the chain,
It is strong, still strong, for we forged it well,
Wrought it of friendship and fashioned it fine;
It will last and out-last us, though Fires of Hell
Lick round us and wrack us, oh, Brother of Mine!





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