Poems (Smith)/Lines to a Friend (Dear friend, I love thee truly)
For works with similar titles, see Lines to a Friend.
LINES TO A FRIEND.
Dear friend, I love thee truly; Ever may thy life abound In every choicest blessing On this earth to be found.
Then, friend, now and ever, While I pen these lines to thee, Thou wilt forget me never, But oft remember me.
And when I lie sleeping, Hands clasped across my breast, My heart no longer weeping, Having found its quiet rest.
You'll read with eyes o'erflowing, Tears from thy gentle eve Will flow like rain in summer, Breaking 'neath the darkened sky.
But soon the cloud will vanish, And joy to you'll appear; For you helped a soul in anguish, When all was dark and drear.
By soothing words endearing To a heart so sorely riven, You seem to me appearing An angel sent from Heaven
To waft my spirit gently Unto that beautiful land, Where God in all His glory And our loving Saviour stand.
I will love thee, friend, forever; May our friendship many a day Brighten and shed ever O'er our lives a pleasant ray
Of sunshine to brighten ever Our pathway through this gloom,Leading to sweet home hereafter, And rest beyond the tomb.
Then when the eve of life shall come, And from earth we pass away, Unto that beautiful land beyond, Where forever is light of day.
This life is but a passing dream Of joys and sorrows given,Where we see but the faintest gleam Of our beautiful home in Heaven.