ON A LETTER FROM A FRIEND

ON A LETTER FROM A FRIEND

Like a zephyr gently blowing
Warm and spicy from the South,
Like the welcome raindrops falling
At the breaking of a drouth,
Came to me a welcome letter
From a dear old friend of mine,
With a sweetness and a flavor
That long aging gives to wine.

On the balmy breezes wafted
From the Isles of Long Ago,
Comes the odor of an incense
In the evening's golden glow;
'Tis a sacred distillation
From the memories of youth,
When our hearts were young and happy
And the world was full of truth.

There is not a finer fruitage
From the garden of the heart;
None whose vintage hath the flavor
That true friendship doth impart;
There's no cup that gives more courage
To combat our needless fears
Than the friendly draught that's flowing
From the winepress of the years.

By

J. M. RichardsonŠ

My heartfelt thanks to Gary Beatty for sharing this poem !