In Days to Come

In days to come -- whatever ache
Of age shall rack our bones, or quake
Our slackened thews -- whatever grip
Rheumatic catch us i' the hip, --
We, each one, for the other's sake,
Will of our very wailings make
Such quips of song as well may shake
The spasm'd corners from the lip --
In days to come.

Ho! ho! how our old hearts shall rake
The past up! -- how our dry eyes slake
Their sight upon the dewy drip
Of juicy-ripe companionship,
And blink stars from the blind opaque --
In days to come.