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Poem
April 3, 1869
The Albany Register
Albany, Linn County, Oregon
What is this article about?
A reflective elegy on learning of an old friend's death via newspaper, evoking fond memories, the quiet bond they shared, and the inevitability of time's passage and one's own mortality.
Clipping
OCR Quality
96%
Excellent
Full Text
An old Friend.
But a line in a daily paper
Thousands of eyes would see,
And careless pass the record by
That gives such pain to me.
Yet our lives had drifted wide apart—
Mine at my ingle side;
And hers, which I read in the Post to-day.
"On the 4th of October died."
And ours was a quiet liking,
A simple, friendly bond;
It was pleasant to meet, and light to part,
And never a thought beyond.
Yet as I read those words to-day
Through a sudden mist of tears,
The fair, frank face and bright blue eyes,
Gleamed out through the cloud of years.
Ah, well! it had passed away from mine
The life that is closed at noon;
And I who forgot to watch its course,
Will forget its setting soon.
The world goes up and the world goes down,
And the young succeed the old;
And the April sunshine gilds the buds
That spring from the church-yard mold.
And eyes that of old have answered mine
Will sadden as mine have done,
As they glance some day down the list and read
That my earthly race is run.
Well, I scarce can frame a kindlier wish
Than that every lip will say,
"God rest her soul!" as earnestly
As I breathe it for her to-day.
But a line in a daily paper
Thousands of eyes would see,
And careless pass the record by
That gives such pain to me.
Yet our lives had drifted wide apart—
Mine at my ingle side;
And hers, which I read in the Post to-day.
"On the 4th of October died."
And ours was a quiet liking,
A simple, friendly bond;
It was pleasant to meet, and light to part,
And never a thought beyond.
Yet as I read those words to-day
Through a sudden mist of tears,
The fair, frank face and bright blue eyes,
Gleamed out through the cloud of years.
Ah, well! it had passed away from mine
The life that is closed at noon;
And I who forgot to watch its course,
Will forget its setting soon.
The world goes up and the world goes down,
And the young succeed the old;
And the April sunshine gilds the buds
That spring from the church-yard mold.
And eyes that of old have answered mine
Will sadden as mine have done,
As they glance some day down the list and read
That my earthly race is run.
Well, I scarce can frame a kindlier wish
Than that every lip will say,
"God rest her soul!" as earnestly
As I breathe it for her to-day.
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Friendship
What keywords are associated?
Old Friend
Death Announcement
Newspaper Obituary
Quiet Friendship
Passage Of Time
Mourning Tears
Poem Details
Title
An Old Friend.
Subject
On The Death Of An Old Friend
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas
Key Lines
Yet As I Read Those Words To Day
Through A Sudden Mist Of Tears,
The Fair, Frank Face And Bright Blue Eyes,
Gleamed Out Through The Cloud Of Years.
Well, I Scarce Can Frame A Kindlier Wish
Than That Every Lip Will Say,
"God Rest Her Soul!" As Earnestly
As I Breathe It For Her To Day.