POETRY.
A FAREWELL.
[E. B. PIGOTT, FEBRUARY 23RD, 1895.j FRIEND, farewell, the word is time and sweet, Although I say it not with any thought Of parting long or severance complete.
Farewell, and yet farewell I may there be nought To hinder thy safe passage o'er the line Invisible that parts the lingering way Which still is ours from that which now is thine.
Be here the darkness left : meet thou th' encountering day.
Light be thy foot that had grown slow of late, And free thy breath, unstayed by fog or chill, Thy shoulders lightened of each mortal weight, No prick of whin-strewn moor or thorny hill; rlosen and shoon thou gav'st with liberal hands, Kind words and gentle judgment ever thine ; Now take thy way, content, o'er flowery lands, And meet, benignant thou, the eternal smile benign.
far advanced upon the self-same road, My heart forestalling still the footsteps slow, Waiting the opening of those gates of God, Sick of believing, sick to see and know, No word of parting say, no tear will shed, But speed with tender greeting and with praise 'The guest that to a fairer hostel led, Goes from our winter forth, content, by happier ways.
Till next we meet and if meanwhile ere I Make up to you, you meet with those of mine :Of whom we talked 'neath this same wintry sky The other day : oh friend, a friendly sign, A kind word give, as 'twas thy habit here, Ever forestalling question with reply, As "All is well, eh 9" lending to the ear A token kind of home, to be remembered by.
Then pass thou on, all cheerful to thy place, Thou whom no whisper of the envious crowd E'er moved to evil word, suspicion base, Or echo of ill rumour, low or loud.
The age is almost past was thine and mine, The saner days and better near their end.
/low glad would I my lingering past resign, And faring forth like thee, recover many a friend?
M. 0. W. 0.
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