To James Freeman Clarke

I bring the simplest pledge of love,     Friend of my earlier days;     Mine is the hand without the glove,     The heart-beat, not the phrase.     How few still breathe this mortal air     We called by school-boy names!     You still, whatever robe you wear,     To me are always James.     That name the kind apostle bore     Who shames the sullen creeds,     Not trusting less, but loving more,     And showing faith by deeds.     What blending thoughts our memories share!     What visions yours and mine     Of May-days in whose morning air     The dews were golden wine,     Of vistas bright with opening day,     Whose all-awakening sun     Showed in life's landscape, far away,     The summits to be won!     The heights are gained. Ah, say not so     For him who smiles at time,     Leaves his tired comrades down below,     And only lives to climb!     His labors, - will they ever cease, -     With hand and tongue and pen?     Shall wearied Nature ask release     At threescore years and ten?     Our strength the clustered seasons tax, -     For him new life they mean;     Like rods around the lictor's axe     They keep him bright and keen.     The wise, the brave, the strong, we know, -     We mark them here or there,     But he, - we roll our eyes, and lo!     We find him everywhere!     With truth's bold cohorts, or alone,     He strides through error's field;     His lance is ever manhood's own,     His breast is woman's shield.     Count not his years while earth has need     Of souls that Heaven inflames     With sacred zeal to save, to lead, -     Long live our dear Saint James!