We will not speak of years to-night, -
For what have years to bring
But larger floods of love and light,
And sweeter songs to sing?
We will not drown in wordy praise
The kindly thoughts that rise;
If Friendship own one tender phrase,
He reads it in our eyes.
We need not waste our school-boy art
To gild this notch of Time; -
Forgive me if my wayward heart
Has throbbed in artless rhyme.
Enough for him the silent grasp
That knits us hand in hand,
And he the bracelet's radiant clasp
That locks our circling band.
Strength to his hours of manly toil!
Peace to his starlit dreams!
Who loves alike the furrowed soil,
The music-haunted streams!
Sweet smiles to keep forever bright
The sunshine on his lips,
And faith that sees the ring of light
Round nature's last eclipse!
February 22, 1859.
At A Birthday Festival - To J. R. Lowell
Oliver Wendell Holmes
(1)
Poem topics: faith, heart, music, nature, night, peace, school, strength, sunshine, time, forever, tender, sweet, rise, bright, forgive, bring, silent, february, speak, Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about At A Birthday Festival - To J. R. Lowell poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes
Best Poems of Oliver Wendell Holmes