“God Speed And God Be Near”

For years a dove of spotless white

     Has fluttered softly here and there;

     How near us, now afar, but everywhere

Shedding pure rays of Heavenly light

On darkened minds; and, in the flight

E’er guiding younger ones to soar

     Above the common paths we tread.

     But now the bird afar has sped

To light upon a foreign shore;

Where, resting weary wings, ‘twill learn

Of old-time scenes of which we yearn;

     And, tho’ we miss its presence here,

     We wish “God speed” and “God be near”,

And watch and wait for its return.

June 26, ‘91

Pub in

Cambridge

Chronicle

Ded. to Mrs. A.S. Taylor, Cambridge, on her departure for Europe, June 27, 1891.