Classic Poem

Come , let us sit together while
Old friends are round us falling,
And memory doth our tears beguile—
Departed days recalling.
Hold thou my hand, and I'll hold thine,
Thou friend of many graces,
While we drink a cup of salty wine
To the old familiar faces.

Long years have we together dwelt,
Thro' dry and rainy season;
I've felt with thee, as thou hast felt
With me, o'er Fortune's treason.
We've seen our comrades sail away
To earth's far-distant places,
And 'tis salty wine we drink to-day
To the old familiar faces.

Together we have fought the fight—
Each other always aiding—
Together we have watched the light
'Neath each other's eyelids fading.
So put thy brave old hand in mine
While we count the empty spaces,
And drink a cup of salty wine
To the old familiar faces.

Full many a one we've borne to rest,
Our hearts with sorrow breaking;
Full many a friend on earth's cold breast
His last repose is taking.
Then let us drain death's loving-cup,
And dash away the traces:
'Tis salty, yet we'll drink it up
To the old familiar faces.

There's still an arrow left for us
In that exhaustless quiver;
Right soon, with Charon's pall o'er us,
We'll cross the inky river;
But put thy brave old hand in mine,
Thou friend of many graces,
And pledge with me in salty wine
The old familiar faces.