The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
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| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
 | VII. |
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“NEVER FAREWELL TO THEE!”
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| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
212
“NEVER FAREWELL TO THEE!”
Never farewell. Though all life changes round about us,
Never farewell to thee!
The summers smile and pass. The new spring days without us
Win the same ecstasy.
Never farewell to thee!
The summers smile and pass. The new spring days without us
Win the same ecstasy.
Life deepens into death, and death brings new life bearing
New gifts that time may take.
Leaf saith to leaf farewell, and flower to flower despairing:—
Flower-hearts and men's hearts break.
New gifts that time may take.
Leaf saith to leaf farewell, and flower to flower despairing:—
Flower-hearts and men's hearts break.
Death seems to rule, and pain with foot alert and deadly
Treads through the ill-fated throng.
The world seems just one waste, one sorrowful vast medley
Of wrath and grief and wrong.
Treads through the ill-fated throng.
The world seems just one waste, one sorrowful vast medley
Of wrath and grief and wrong.
213
“Farewell!” “farewell!” “farewell!” saith one heart to another;
The sad cry fills the air.
“Farewell!” saith love to love. “Farewell!” saith son to mother.
This world's gift is despair.
The sad cry fills the air.
“Farewell!” saith love to love. “Farewell!” saith son to mother.
This world's gift is despair.
Yet, though all things be thus, despair shall never reach us
If Love's strong hand we hold.
If Love be guide of ours, if Love sustain and teach us,
Joy never shall grow old.
If Love's strong hand we hold.
If Love be guide of ours, if Love sustain and teach us,
Joy never shall grow old.
Let “farewell” ring throughout the universe—I care not,
If thou art true to me.
My love looks in death's eyes, yet crieth “I despair not:
Never farewell to thee!”
If thou art true to me.
My love looks in death's eyes, yet crieth “I despair not:
Never farewell to thee!”
March 8, 1885.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |