Our Meeting with a Long Lost Friend

How come you back departed friend
Not you, your ghost instead,
Why should your spirit haunt me thus
Back from the mortal dead.

The aged stood like marble stone
His eyes were filled with tears,
Saying I'm not of the mortal dead
Nor yet so vast in years.

But cruel is the tide of life
And many's cast away,
Like early falls decay.
I have crossed the oceans foaming seas

Seen many a frozen shore,
But I'm on my journey homeward now,
I'll traverse those no more.
Then like the good old friend of old

He grasped me by the hand
And said we part to meet no more.
But do the best you can
For oft times I have thought of thee

And wondered could it be,
That fate would ever lead me here
That you once more I would see.
With feeble step he wandered on

You know we both felt sore,
He turned and gave a last farewell
To reach the other shore.