Classic Poem

TO CARA .

There is only the river between us, dear,
And we can come and go,
And though you are there and I am here
I am filled with content, for I know
You are moving brightly about the house
Busy with many a task,
And often alone in your fair sweet room
In the morning light or the evening gloom
You think of me,
You pray for me,
And, oh, what more can I ask!

Daily, indeed, I wish you were here,
And when I am doubtful or vexed
I long for your counsels calm and clear,
But I do the thing that lies next,
And He who is more than any friend
Makes everything easy and straight,
And it is not so hard as I feared to go
In the way untried, and as long as I know
You think of me
And you pray for me,
For everything else I can wait.

Some day I shall go to her, I say,
Or she will come over to me;
In a little space I shall see her face,
This very day it may be
So I will not mind the things unkind.
The bitter that might be sweet,
But strive with a better, braver heart
To fight the good fight and bear my part,
While she thinks of me
And prays for me,
And very soon we shall meet.

Sometimes I ponder how it will be
When you drift to some home afar;
And sometimes how when you are gone
Where the saints and angels are,
When another river shall flow between
That never can be recrossed;
But still I say, whatever betide,
Though earth may part us or death divide,
She will think of me,
She will pray for me;
My friend can never be lost.

For friendship to live must be to love,
To remember must be to pray,
So living or dying your prayers must be mine
And mine must be yours alway.
And, oh, in the light of Paradise,
Most faithful of friends, most dear,
Unhindered by weakness or doubt, and wise
With the wisdom that sees not with earthly eyes,
It surely must be
You will pray for me
As you could not pray for me here!