My Lyrical Life Poems Old and New. By Gerald Massey |
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My Lyrical Life | ||
122
OLD FRIENDS.
We just shake hands at meeting
With many that come nigh;
We nod the head in greeting
To many that go by,—
But welcome through the gateway
Our few old friends and true;
Then hearts leap up, and straightway
There's open house for you,
Old Friends,
There's open house for you!
With many that come nigh;
We nod the head in greeting
To many that go by,—
But welcome through the gateway
Our few old friends and true;
Then hearts leap up, and straightway
There's open house for you,
Old Friends,
There's open house for you!
The surface will be sparkling,
Let but a sunburst shine;
Yet in the depth lies darkling,
The true life of the wine!
The froth is for the many,
The wine is for the few;
Unseen, untouched of any,
We keep the best for you,
Old Friends,
The very best for you!
Let but a sunburst shine;
Yet in the depth lies darkling,
The true life of the wine!
The froth is for the many,
The wine is for the few;
Unseen, untouched of any,
We keep the best for you,
Old Friends,
The very best for you!
The Many cannot know us;
They only pace the strand,
Where at our worst we show us—
The waters thick with sand!
But out beyond the leaping
Dim surge 'tis clear and blue;
And there, Old Friends, we are keeping
A waiting calm for you,
Old Friends,
A resting-place for you.
They only pace the strand,
Where at our worst we show us—
The waters thick with sand!
123
Dim surge 'tis clear and blue;
And there, Old Friends, we are keeping
A waiting calm for you,
Old Friends,
A resting-place for you.
My Lyrical Life | ||