The Meeting

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

After so long an absence
  At last we meet agin:
Does the meeting give us pleasure,
  Or does it give us pain?

The tree of life has been shaken,
  And but few of us linger now,
Like the prophets two or three berries
  In the top of the uppermost bough.

We cordially greet each other
  In the old, familiar tone;
And we think, though we do not say it,
  How old and gray he is grown!

We speak of a Merry Christmas
  And many a Happy New Year;
But each in his heart is thinking
  Of those that are not here.

We speak of friends and their fortunes,
  And of what they did and said,
Till the dead alone seem living,
  And the living alone seem dead.

And at last we hardly distinguish
  Between the ghosts and the guests;
And a mist and shadow of sadness
  Steals over our merriest jests.

Next 10 Poems

• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Old Clock On The Stairs
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Poet's Calendar: 01 - January
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Poet's Calendar: 02 - February
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Poet's Calendar: 03 - March
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Poet's Calendar: 04 - April
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Poet's Calendar: 05 - May
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Poet's Calendar: 06 - June
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Poet's Calendar: 07 - July
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Poet's Calendar: 08 - August
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Poet's Calendar: 09 - September

Previous 10 Poems

• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Ladder Of St. Augustine
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Jewish Cemetery At Newport
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Galaxy
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Fire Of Drift-wood
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Evening Star
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Emperor's Bird's-nest
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Day Is Done
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Cumberland
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Cross Of Snow
• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow : The Children's Hour