A MESSAGE HOME

SAY, Little Boy, ’twixt dawn and dusk who treads such devious ways, I wish you would remember me to all your sunny days; For once they were such friends of mine; so bid them my good cheer And say you saw an old, old friend, who holds them very dear; Remember me to those cool paths, that led by fields and streams, Where what were my songs now are yours and what were mine your dreams; Just say you saw an old, old friend, who wanted you to tell Them all he sent them love and cheer and wished them always well. And, Little Boy, if you should lie beneath some spreading tree, Be good enough to say it has remembrance sweet from me; For once it used to cover me with shade so thick and cool And bid me lie and rest and dream as I came home from school; And when you romp with comrade boys at noontime, Lad, I pray, Remember me to all of them and to the games they play; And let no games too humble be, no youngsters be too small To know an old, old friend sends love and blessings to them all. Remember me to all your dreams, to rose and bush and stem, To days too short to hold your joys, remember me to them; To all your secrets deep and vast, of things that are and were And are to be, half-whispered in the twilight’s dusk and blur; Just say an old friend, long away, but still remembering Would have them know his heart is full of memories that bring Delight to bygone fellowships, and he would have you tell Them all he sends them love and cheer, and wishes them so well! For, over land and over sea the hearts of us that fare Swell with the messages they bid the homebound comrade bear; And over days and over years have I fared forth and so I bid you bear my greetings, Lad, to all the joys you know. Remember me to all the hearts and hopes and dreams and deeds, Bear blessings of mine everywhere the path of boyland leads; Just say you saw an old, old friend, who wanted you to tell The joys and boys of youth he loved and wished them always well.