  When we began this never-ended Kind companionship, Childish greetings lit the splendid Laughter at the lip; You were ten and I eleven; Henceforth, as we knew, Was all the mischief under heaven Set down to Lo and Lu. Long we fought and cooed together, Held an equal reign, Snowballs could we fire and gather, Twine a clover chain; Sing in G an A flat chorus No harmonious angels o’er us Taught us, Lo or Lu. Pleasant studious times have seen us Arm-in-arm of yore, LearnÈd books, well-thumbed between us, Spread along the floor; Perched in pine-tops, sunk in barley, Rogues, where rogues were few, Right or wrong, in deed and parley, Comrades, Lo and Lu. Which could leap where banks were wider, Mock the cat-bird’s call? Which preside and pop the cider At a festival? Who became the finer Stoic Stabbing trouble thro’, Thrilled to hear of things heroic Earliest, blithest! then and ever Mirror of my heart! Grow we old and wise and clever Now, so far apart; Still as tender as a mother’s Floats our prayer for two; Neither yet can spare the other’s “God bless—Lo and Lu!” |
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