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Home  »  Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse  »  One Friend

Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.

By Dora Greenwell (1821–1882)

One Friend

 
SAID a sick and lonely child,
“Often have I tired of thee,
Tired of all thy answers mild,
Heard so oft, so wearily;
Wilt thou never tire of me,        5
Gentle Patience? Now look forth
From our window looking north,
And tell us where the others play,
All this long, warm summer day.”
 
“Love is standing in the sun,        10
Joy and Beauty at his side,
Now in one their shadows run.
Hope has sent an arrow wide;
Shading from his brow the light,
Now I see him watch its flight.”        15
 
“Oh, that they would look this way,
Oh, that to this quiet room
They would come awhile to play!
See my rose-tree all in bloom,
See the flowers I dried last spring;        20
Hear my little linnet sing
In his cage! they need not stay
Longer than they please!” The child
Patience soothed with answer mild.