President Garfield's Favorite Poem
To all those who are related to the former president, James A. Garfield. I found this poem in the form of a newspaper clipping in a book I recently purchased, Life of James A Garfield.
Garfield's Favorite Poem
The following poem was a great favorite with the lamented Garfield, and was often quoted by him. Its authorship is unknown, but it will be treasured hereafter like Lincoln's favorite poem, "Why Should the Spirit of Mortal be Proud?"
Commend me to the friend that comes
When I am sad and lone,
And makes the anguish of my heart
The suffering of his own;
Who coldly shuns the glittering throng
At pleasure's gay I vee,
And comes to gild a somber hour
And gives his heart to me.
He hears me count my sorrow o'er,
And when the task is done
He freely gives me all I ask--
A sigh for every one.
He cannot wear a smiling face
When mine is touched with gloom,
But like the violet seeks to cheer
The midnight with perfume
Commend me to that generous heart
Which like the pine on high,
Uplifts the same unvarying brow
To every change of sky;
Whose friendship does not fade away
When Wintry tempests blow
But like the Winter's icy crown
Looks greener through the snow.
He flies not with the flitting stork
That seeks a southern sky,
But lingers where the wounded bird
Hath laid him down to die.
O, such a friend! He is in truth
What e'er his lot may be,
A rainbow on the storm of life,
An anchor on its sea.