Friend and brother, and yet more than brother , Thou endowed with all of Shelley's soul! Thou whose heart so burneth for thy mother, That, like his, it may defy all other Flames, while time shall roll! Thou of language bland, and manner meekest, Gentle bearing, yet unswerving will- Gladly, gladly, list I when thou speakest, Honoured highly is the man thou seekest To redeem from ill! Truly showest thou me the one thing needful! Thou art not, nor is the world yet blind. Truly have I been long years unheedful Of the thorns and tares, that choked the weedful Garden of my mind! Thorns and tares, which rose in rank profusion Round my scanty fruitage and my flowers, Till I almost deemed it self-delusion, Any attempt or glance at their extrusion From their midnight bowers. Dream and waking life have now been blended Longtime in the caverns of my soul- Oft in daylight have my steps descended Down to that dusk realm where all is ended, Save remeadless dole! Oft, with tears, I have groaned to God for pity- Oft gone wandering till my way grew dim- Oft sung unto Him a prayerful ditty- Oft, all lonely in this throngful city Raised my soul to Him! And from path to path His mercy tracked me- From a many a peril snatched He me, When false friends, pursued, betrayed, attacked me, When gloom overdarked, and sickness racked me, He was by to save and free! Friend! thou warnest me in truly noble Thoughts and phrases! I will heed thee well- Well will I obey thy mystic double Counsel, through all scenes of woe and trouble, As a magic spell! Yes! to live a bard, in thought and feeling! Yes! to act my rhyme, by self-restraint, This is truth's, is reason's deep revealing, Unto me from thee, as God's to a kneeling And entranced saint! Fare thee well! we now know each the other, Each has struck the other's inmost chords- Fare thee well, my friend and more than brother, And may scorn pursue me if I smother In my soul thy words! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PLAINT OF THE DISGUSTED BRITON IN THE STATES by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE THORN by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH DECEMBER 31ST by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE ANNIVERSARIUM BAPTISMI (5) by JOSEPH BEAUMONT ROMAN ANEMONES by MATHILDE BLIND TAKE YOUR CHOICE: OR HERE'S GRANTLAND RICE'S METHOD by BERTON BRALEY FAMILIAR EPISTLES ON A SERMON, 'OFFICE & OPERATIONS OF HOLY SPIRIT': 2 by JOHN BYROM |