 | The poems of Robert Traill Spence Lowell |  |
76
TO MY FRIEND LONG SUNDERED.
Thus we meet, that long were parted:
As I feel thy hand,
Seems, once more, the boy, high-hearted,
By my side to stand.
As I feel thy hand,
Seems, once more, the boy, high-hearted,
By my side to stand.
Now thy touch is something colder
Than 'twas wont to be;
We are changed in growing older:
Yet I longed for thee:
Than 'twas wont to be;
We are changed in growing older:
Yet I longed for thee:
Waited anxiously, yet fearing
For the change of years;
Hoped yet dreaded thy appearing
To shape out my fears.
For the change of years;
Hoped yet dreaded thy appearing
To shape out my fears.
For our feelings grew together,
And our voices, blent,
Through the long fair summer weather,
Forth in space were sent.
And our voices, blent,
77
Forth in space were sent.
Every answering hill that heard them
Called them not apart;
They were one; one impulse stirred them,
Mingled from each heart.
Called them not apart;
They were one; one impulse stirred them,
Mingled from each heart.
By the solemn forest shaded,
Side by side we lay;
Hand in hand the streamlet waded,
Tossing far its spray.
Side by side we lay;
Hand in hand the streamlet waded,
Tossing far its spray.
Many a tree and hill and hollow
Fondly then we knew;
Many a lonely path could follow,
Where light glimmered through.
Fondly then we knew;
Many a lonely path could follow,
Where light glimmered through.
At the fence the wood dividing
Lay our common spoil,
Hidden for the sake of hiding,
Treasured for the toil.
Lay our common spoil,
Hidden for the sake of hiding,
Treasured for the toil.
Every frequent boyish pleasure,
Lost, if had alone,
We would share it without measure!
Thine was still my own.
Lost, if had alone,
We would share it without measure!
Thine was still my own.
78
Every sight of love and beauty
That to childhood came;
Every hope and every duty;
Dreams that had no name;—
That to childhood came;
Every hope and every duty;
Dreams that had no name;—
Each with each to us was blended,
And one shadow threw:
To one bourne the shadows tended,
Over life's wide view.
And one shadow threw:
To one bourne the shadows tended,
Over life's wide view.
When apart, an anxious longing
In our hearts was set;
And our pulses, loud and thronging,
Bounded as we met.
In our hearts was set;
And our pulses, loud and thronging,
Bounded as we met.
Hastily my veins would tingle
At thy noble deed;
And thy glance of praise, though single,
Was my dearest meed.
At thy noble deed;
And thy glance of praise, though single,
Was my dearest meed.
Now thy voice is calm and steady,
And thine eye is cold;
And the glow that once was ready
Comes not, as of old.
We that had one record, only,
From the Angel's pen,
Now, long separate and lonely,
Are no more as then.
And thine eye is cold;
And the glow that once was ready
Comes not, as of old.
We that had one record, only,
From the Angel's pen,
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Are no more as then.
Fare thee well! I could not greet thee
After darker change.
Let it be enough to meet thee
Now not wholly strange.
After darker change.
Let it be enough to meet thee
Now not wholly strange.
November, 1839.
| The poems of Robert Traill Spence Lowell | |