“I Have Called You Friends”
O
UT of the haze of time—the stress of the
years,
These words come back to the heart like
an old sweet song,
To lift the spirit up and to dry our tears,
And to make us strong.
“I have called you friends,” oh, fathom it who can:
That utterance at the end of the road he trod,
With its infinite compassion voiced to man
By the son of God.
“I have called you friends,” and never again
need we
Be friendless, lonely, walking a road apart;
Recalling his words, their truth and sincerity
Should stay the heart;
Should lift a drooping head, and should keep the
eyes
Undaunted, clear, and fearless of paths ahead:
“I have called you friends,” how strengthening,
how wise
Were the words he said.
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