THEOLDFAMILIARFACES

writtenonchristmasday,1797

iamawidow'dthing,nowthouartgone!

nowthouartgone,myownfamiliarfriend,

companion,sister,help-mate,counsellor!

alas!thathonour'dmind,whosesweetreproof

andmeekestwisdomintimespasthavesmooth'd

theunfilialharshnessofmyfoolishspeech,

andmademelovingtomyparentsold,

(whyisthisso,ahgod!whyisthisso?)

thathonour'dmindbecomeafearfulblank,

hersenseslock'dup,andherselfkeptout

fromhumansightorconverse,whilesomany

ofthefoolishsortarelefttoroamatlarge,

doingallactsoffolly,andsin,andshame?

thypathsaremystery!

yetiwillnotthink,

sweetfriend,butweshallonedaymeet,andlive

inquietness,anddieso,fearinggod.

orifnot,andthesefalseestionsbe

afitoftheweaknature,lothtopart

withwhatitlov'dsolong,andheldsodear;

ifthouarttobetaken,andileft

(moresinning,yetunpunish'd,saveinthee),

itisthewillofgod,andweareclay

inthepotter'shands;and,attheworst,aremade

fromabsolutenothing,vesselsofdisgrace,

till,hismostrighteouspurposewroughtinus,

ourpurifiedspiritsfindtheirperfectrest.

theoldfamiliarfaces

(january,1798.textof1818)

ihavehadplaymates,ihavehadcompanions,

inmydaysofchildhood,inmyjoyfulschool-days,

all,allaregone,theoldfamiliarfaces.

ihavebeenlaughing,ihavebeencarousing,

drinkinglate,sittinglate,withmybosomcronies,

all,allaregone,theoldfamiliarfaces.

ilovedaloveonce,fairestamongwomen;

closedareherdoorsonme,imustnotseeher—

all,allaregone,theoldfamiliarfaces.

ihaveafriend,akinderfriendhasnoman;

likeaningrate,ileftmyfriendabruptly;

lefthim,tomuseontheoldfamiliarfaces.

ghost-like,ipacedroundthehauntsofmychildhood.

earthseemedadesartiwasboundtotraverse,

seekingtofindtheoldfamiliarfaces.

friendofmybosom,thoumorethanabrother,

whywertnotthouborninmyfather'sdwelling?

somightwetalkoftheoldfamiliarfaces—

howsometheyhavedied,andsometheyhaveleftme,

andsomearetakenfromme;allaredeparted;