TO A
FRIEND
Like the Evergreen so shall
our Friendship be
SOME LIKEN THEIR LOVE TO THE
BEAUTIFUL ROSE,
AND SOME TO THE VIOLET SWEET
IN THE SHADE:
BUT THE FLOWER QUEEN DIES WHEN
THE SUMMER DAY GOES,
AND THE BLUE EYE SHUTS UP WHEN
THE SPRING BLOSSOMS FADE!
SO WE'LL CHOOSE FOR OUR EMBLEM
A STURDIER THING,
WE WILL GO TO THE MOUNTAIN
AND WORSHIP ITS TREE:
THEN A HEALTH TO THE CEDAR
THE EVERGREEN KING,
LIKE THAT EVERGREEN SO SHALL
OUR FRIENDSHIP BE.
image of flowers
IT GROWETH IN MIGHT AND
ENDURETH FOR LONG:
AND THE LONGER IT LIVETH THE
NOBLER THE TREE;
THEN A HEALTH TO THE CEDAR
THE TRUE AND THE STRONG;
LIKE THE EVERGREEN SO SHALL
OUR FRIENDSHIP BE!
AND SO SHALL ALL CHANGES THAT
FORTUNE CAN BRING,
FIND OUR SPIRITS UNALTER'D AND
STAUNCH AS THE TREE;
THEN A HEALTH TO THE CEDAR
THE EVERGREEN KING,
LIKE THAT EVERGREEN SO SHALL
OUR FRIENDSHIP BE.
(ELIZA COOK)