Poems and Songs By Robert Gilfillan. Fourth edition. With memoir of the author, and appendix of his latest pieces |
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ON THE DEATH OF ROBERT GILFILLAN. |
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 | Poems and Songs |  |
xxix
ON THE DEATH OF ROBERT GILFILLAN.
Farewell, my old, my early friend,
A long, a last farewell—
On all the mem'ries now recalled
What need that I should dwell?
A long, a last farewell—
On all the mem'ries now recalled
What need that I should dwell?
But when I look, in pensive mood,
Back through the mist of years,
The thoughts of happy hours long past
Unseal the fount of tears.
Back through the mist of years,
The thoughts of happy hours long past
Unseal the fount of tears.
Of gentle nature, guileless heart,
The love of all was thine,
And long, with deep and fond regrets,
Thy mem'ry shall entwine.
The love of all was thine,
And long, with deep and fond regrets,
Thy mem'ry shall entwine.
To thee, and with no niggard hand,
Was given the pow'r of song,
The power to touch the finer chords
That to the heart belong.
Was given the pow'r of song,
The power to touch the finer chords
That to the heart belong.
No passions fierce, no thoughts that lead
The wav'ring mind astray,
Were themes of thine. Pure feeling still
Breath'd through thy simple lay.
The wav'ring mind astray,
Were themes of thine. Pure feeling still
Breath'd through thy simple lay.
No barren heights ye sought to reach,
On vain ambitious wing,
But wert content of homely things,
In homely strains, to sing.
On vain ambitious wing,
But wert content of homely things,
In homely strains, to sing.
Farewell, again, departed friend;
Again, a long farewell—
Of all the mem'ries now recalled,
What need that I should tell?
Again, a long farewell—
Of all the mem'ries now recalled,
What need that I should tell?
Alexander Campbell.
| Poems and Songs | |