Old Friends Together

by Charles Swain

Oh, time is sweet, when roses meet

With Spring's sweet breath around then;

And sweet the cost, when hearts are lost,

If those we love have found them!

And sweet the Mind, that still can find

A star in darkest weather!

But nought can be so sweet to see,

As old friends met together!

Those days of old, when youth was bold,

And Time stole wings to speed it,

And youth ne'er knew how fast time flew—

Or knowing, did not heed it!

Though gray each brow that meets us now—

For age brings wintry weather—

Yet nought can be so sweet to see

As those old friends together!

The few long known, that years have shown,

With hearts that friendship blesses;

A hand to cheer—perchance, a tear

To soothe a friend's distresses!

That helped and tried—still side by side—

A friend to face hard weather;

Oh, thus may we yet joy to see,

And meet old friends together!

Artist Inge Look