old stuff

some friend, at some point of time, had given me a card with these words in it -

life! we've been long together
through pleasant and through stormy weather
'tis hard to part when friends are dear
perhaps it'll cost a smile, a tear
then steal away, give little warning
choose thine own time
say not "good night"
but in some brighter clime
bid me "good morning"

i was moved enough that i had it on my wall through many years at berkeley. found it in my berkeley trunk while i was unpacking. it does not read as beautifully as it did then, but i am just as moved...

(it did always bother me though that the rhyme scheme suddenly switched itself without warning!)