The Fellowship Of Humanity

As one who, late at eve returning home Under the stars, hears on the common road A fellow-footstep fall, and sees one come Dimly, he knows not whom, nor can forebode;

But cries to him ‘God speed thee,’ and is glad Hearing his restful answer through the night, And dreams of love, and though his heart be sad Feels darkly some strange instinct of delight;

So I to thee. If on this earthly way Our paths had lain together, I perchance In the sweet sunlight had beheld thy day And known thee as thou art--as in a trance,--

And loved thee, and thou me. But seeing now Sad night compels us, and our way is won Through ignorance and blindness to the brow Of that fair mountain of the morning Sun Whence Truth is manifest, let us remain In word and action strangers, yet in heart One and well-known by every joy and pain That makes divine our little human part.

1872.