Why didst thou come into my life so late? <br />If it were morning I could welcome thee <br />With glad all-hails, and bid each hour to be <br />The willing servitor of thine estate, <br />Lading thy brave ships with Time's richest freight; <br />If it were noonday I might hope to see <br />On some fair height thy banners floating free, <br />And hear the acclaiming voices call thee great! <br />But it is nightfall and the stars are out; <br />Far in the west the crescent moon hangs low, <br />And near at hand the lurking shadows wait; <br />Darkness and silence gather round about, <br />Lethe's black stream is near its overflow,- <br />Ah, friend, dear, friend, why didst thou come so late?<br /><br />Julia Caroline (Ripley) Dorr<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-a-late-comer/
