| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | May 11 | | To Dr. John Brown | | By Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909) |
| | | | The author of “Rab and His Friends.” He died May 11, 1882. |
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BEYOND the north wind lay the land of old | |
| Where men dwelt blithe and blameless, clothed and fed | |
| With joy’s bright raiment and with love’s sweet bread, | |
| The whitest flock of earth’s maternal fold. | |
| None there might wear about his brows enrolled | 5 |
| A light of lovelier fame than rings your head, | |
| Whose lovesome love of children and the dead | |
| All men give thanks for: I far off behold | |
| A dear dead hand that links us, and a light | |
| The blithest and benignest of the night, | 10 |
| The night of death’s sweet sleep, wherein may be | |
| A star to show your spirit in present sight | |
| Some happier island in the Elysian sea | |
| Where Rab may lick the hand of Marjorie. | | | |
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