Classic Poem

Dear Friend, so much admired, so oft desired,
'Tis time that now I wish to be away.
You are not tiresome, no! but I am tired.
Allow to servant brain and nerves full play
In their electric function, yea and nay;
Faith and affection do not shift their ground,
Howe'er the vital currents ebb and flow;
To feel most free because most firmly bound
To Friendship's privilege. So now I go
To rest awhile the mystic nerves and brain
To walk apart, and long for you again.

Whenever I see from my loneliness
Two to each other kindly press,
I envy not, but in grateful mood
Rejoice that earth holds this much good.

While friends we were, the hot debates
That rose 'twixt you and me!
Now we are mere associates,
And never disagree.

The spiteful dart
Flies below and above me;
The wound in my heart
Is from you, who love me.

How grave (the child thinks) deep and wise,
Reproving folly, are men's eyes! —
Not guessing with what pompous airs
We go about our mean affairs.

The weak have no opinions; but the strong,
Full of self will, go very badly wrong.

Is idleness indeed so black a crime?
What are the Busy doing, half their time?

If I could hate thee, Squirmley, thus I'd curse —
" Remain thyself! " — I could not wish thee worse.

The Worker's Revolution must begin
(Else that were also vanity) within;
Grant honest life and honest work its aim
Or do they merely envy whom they blame?

I dreamt I went to hell one night.
The little devils were impolite.
But Satan with the sweetest air
Bow'd me to a red hot chair.

We count men subject to mortality
Yet take one man — we could not let him die.

The Poet launched a stately fleet: it sank.
His fame was rescued by a single plank.
Four ducks on a pond,
A grass bank beyond.
A blue sky of spring,
White clouds on the wing;
What a little thing
To remember for years —
To remember with tears!