Rain and Roses

<h2><SPAN name="DRAW_CLOSER_TO_THE_FIRE" id="DRAW_CLOSER_TO_THE_FIRE"></SPAN>Draw Closer to the Fire</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="ig"><span class="letra">T</span>HE summer sweets have faded,<br/></span> <span class="ih">The hedge, the vine, and briar,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Come, put your hand in mine, my friend,<br/></span> <span class="i2">Draw closer to the fire.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">From footstools let us view the heights<br/></span> <span class="i2">To which great minds aspire;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Here’s Riley, Keats and Emerson,<br/></span> <span class="i2">Draw closer to the fire.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">A brave refrain from unknown bards<br/></span> <span class="i2">And Byron’s brave satire,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Frank Stanton’s tears and tenderness,<br/></span> <span class="i2">Draw closer to the fire.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Tho’ cold the winds and fierce the blast,<br/></span> <span class="i2">And thwarted our heart’s desire,<br/></span> <span class="i0">We’ve Robert Frost to cheer the hearth,<br/></span> <span class="i2">Draw closer to the fire.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Give me your hand, my steadfast friend;<br/></span> <span class="i2">The words that friends require<br/></span> <span class="i0">Stay with me thru the dying year,<br/></span> <span class="i2">Draw closer to the fire.<br/></span> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="page_84" id="page_84">{84}</SPAN></span></div> </div></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />