Classic Poem

JOHN AND FRIEND

JOHN

When we, all friends, in manhood's prime,
Did meet, work free, with weather fine;
And you had made, at evening time,
Your work-day good, as I had mine;
Then one would call, as he might come
To fetch another out from home:
 ‘Come out a while with me.’
 ‘Aye, I shall soon be free.’
 ‘How long have I to wait?’
 ‘Why, I am coming straight.’

FRIEND

Aye, aye, 'twas so, we did, I know,
When we were young together.

JOHN

While summer days might slowly run
Through noons of shrunken shades and heat;
And we, well-brown'd below the sun,
Might meet, and call as we might meet:
‘Hallo! why you but seldom come
For me.’ ‘Nor you for me at home.’
 ‘Well, where's your road to-night?’
 ‘Where you should go by right.’
 ‘Shall I be welcome there?’
 ‘To one, I'd nearly swear.’

FRIEND

Aye, aye, like that, we used to chat,
When we were young together.

JOHN

Then we, with many dear old names,
Would meet within some neighbour's door,
And man and maid in merry games
Would spring and scuff about the floor.
If one might speak a little tart,
Another's answer was as smart.
 ‘With whom are you to go?’
 ‘Here face to face in row.’
 ‘Here, now we'll dance a reel.’
 ‘Well foot it, toe and heel.’

FRIEND

Aye, there we danced, and hopp'd and pranced,
When we were young together.

JOHN

Then we, in all our pride, would try
Which man could run or leap the best,
Or lift the greatest weight, or shy
A pebble truer than the rest.
‘Who'll walk along these narrow poles?’
‘Not you, my lad, with your splay soles.’
 ‘Now you can't hit that stone.’
 ‘I can, whee-it . Well done!’
 ‘Well, you can't clear the brook.’
 ‘Oh, can't I then? You look.’

FRIEND

And down he dash'd, as water splashed,
When we were young together.

JOHN

In summer time we went to take
Our picnic by the castle walls,
And play'd our games beside the lake,
Where swam the swans by waterfalls;
And there, for merry pranks, might crawl
About the trees, or broken wall.
 ‘Here, see how high am I.’
 ‘Well here am I, as high.’
 ‘You can't climb down, old boy.’
 ‘I can, I'll bet’—‘ Heigh! hoy! ’

FRIEND

And down he fell, you need not tell,
When we were young together.