 | Lines in Pleasant Places |  |
265
MY CRUTCH.
[_]
[When the gout prevails this implement serves me for locomotive purposes, and also summons those who on willing and loving feet obey its call.]
A simple song I have to sing—
A grateful strain whose notes shall wing
While aches' fell brood my fibres wring
With hideous clutch,
A simple, unpretending thing:
I sing my crutch.
A grateful strain whose notes shall wing
While aches' fell brood my fibres wring
With hideous clutch,
A simple, unpretending thing:
I sing my crutch.
A patient friend in time of need,
Proving its truth in constant deed;
Too noble past neglect to heed,
—Long darkly hid,—
It comes to me with willing speed
As soon as bid.
Proving its truth in constant deed;
Too noble past neglect to heed,
—Long darkly hid,—
It comes to me with willing speed
As soon as bid.
How grand is friendship such as its!
It vents no spleen in jealous fits,
Nor in its teeth holds hard the bits
At fancied slight,
But waits, content, when need admits,
To do its might.
It vents no spleen in jealous fits,
Nor in its teeth holds hard the bits
At fancied slight,
But waits, content, when need admits,
To do its might.
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Come to my hand again, old friend,
And thy substantial service lend;
We'll show the limb that doth offend
There's this about it;
While it rebels we'll gain the end
To do without it.
And thy substantial service lend;
We'll show the limb that doth offend
There's this about it;
While it rebels we'll gain the end
To do without it.
In stanchest tones thou speak'st to me,
From all offensive twattle free:
“I give myself, in love, to thee—
On me rely;
The failing foot and recreant knee
I will supply.
From all offensive twattle free:
“I give myself, in love, to thee—
On me rely;
The failing foot and recreant knee
I will supply.
“Thy every 'hest I will obey,
From no occasion slink away;
I'll stick to thee both night and day,
Nor leave again
Till health shall once more claim its sway
And banish pain.”
From no occasion slink away;
I'll stick to thee both night and day,
Nor leave again
Till health shall once more claim its sway
And banish pain.”
I am a king!—my sceptre thou;
My kingdom small, I must allow,
Though big enough it is, I trow,
For present care;
With thee I touch each boundary now
From my throne chair.
My kingdom small, I must allow,
Though big enough it is, I trow,
For present care;
With thee I touch each boundary now
From my throne chair.
I hardly dare make the pretence
Of kingship in the regal sense,
Lest womanhood should take offence,
And test my claim;
Best not let brag have prominence
When one is lame.
Of kingship in the regal sense,
Lest womanhood should take offence,
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Best not let brag have prominence
When one is lame.
[OMITTED]
[An omission of forty-seven limpid verses.]
But best of friends are called to part;
I trust we may, with all my heart,
For though, all goodness as thou art,
Unlike a wife,
Thou'rt not the “counsellor and chart”
I'd choose for life.
I trust we may, with all my heart,
For though, all goodness as thou art,
Unlike a wife,
Thou'rt not the “counsellor and chart”
I'd choose for life.
With hope to cheer the hour of pain
That health's bright sun will shine again,
When thou'rt in thy room attic lain,
My tough old friend,
I'll prize thee now with might and main
Till mine shall end.
That health's bright sun will shine again,
When thou'rt in thy room attic lain,
My tough old friend,
I'll prize thee now with might and main
Till mine shall end.
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