TCDE-Team at 23:03, 4 April 2026

2026-04-04T23:03:40Z

TCDE-Team at 11:51, 18 August 2016

2016-08-18T11:51:51Z

New page

''The Farewell'' is a poem written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] first published in [[The Poems of Arthur Conan Doyle]] by [[John Murray]] on 21 september 1922.

__TOC__

== Editions ==

* in ''[[The Poems of Arthur Conan Doyle]] - Collected Edition'' (21 september 1922, [[John Murray]] [UK])
* in ''[[The Poems of Arthur Conan Doyle]] - Collected Edition'' (14 september 1928, [[John Murray]] [UK])

== The Farewell ==

'''The Soul to the Body'''

So sorry, dear old friend, you have to die. 
We've been such goodly partners, you and I, 
Such comrades in our work, and mates at play, 
We've lived together many a happy day. 
It's only lately that you disappoint. 
Sluggish in limb and clogged in every joint ; 
But that is not your fault, for grim old Time 
Has blocked your tiny arteries with lime. 
And cut your sap and left its withering trace 
In every wrinkle of your dear old face. 
No, faithful comrade, I have nought but praise ; 
If there were fault, 'twas mine. You walked the ways 
On which I led you, be they low or high. 
Thanks for all services ! And so good-bye !

'''The Body to the Soul'''

Good-bye, old friend ! You've used me many a year. 
And, as you say, I'm rather out of gear, 
And quite disposed to rest. No doubt you'll find 
Some other form congenial to your mind. 
And moulded on this wreck you leave behind. 
For that, they say, persists. May it be one 
That serves you faithfully, as I have done. 
Of course its right our partnership to sever 
Since I am old and you as young as ever. 
I'll find some cancer cell or handy germ 
To bring my waning forces to a term 
And break the framework of the old machine. 
Then down at Woking or at Golder's Green 
They'll do the trick. And you, friend, from afar, 
Will see the oaken chest or cinder jar, 
And know that I have gone without a pang 
Back to the elements from which I sprang.

----
* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:Complete Works|Back to Complete Works]]
* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|Back to Conan Doyle]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:03, 5 April 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	''The Farewell'' is a poem written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] first published in [[The Poems of Arthur Conan Doyle]] by [[John Murray]] on 21 september 1922.		''The Farewell'' is a poem written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] first published in [[The Poems of Arthur Conan Doyle]] by [[John Murray]] on 21 september 1922.


	__TOC__		__TOC__
Line 13:		Line 12:
	== The Farewell ==		== The Farewell ==

			<poem>
	'''The Soul to the Body'''		'''The Soul to the Body'''

	So sorry, dear old friend, you have to die.~~<br />~~		So sorry, dear old friend, you have to die.
	We've been such goodly partners, you and I,~~<br />~~		We've been such goodly partners, you and I,
	Such comrades in our work, and mates at play,~~<br />~~		Such comrades in our work, and mates at play,
	We've lived together many a happy day.~~<br />~~		We've lived together many a happy day.
	It's only lately that you disappoint.~~<br />~~		It's only lately that you disappoint.
	Sluggish in limb and clogged in every joint ;~~<br />~~		Sluggish in limb and clogged in every joint ;
	But that is not your fault, for grim old Time~~<br />~~		But that is not your fault, for grim old Time
	Has blocked your tiny arteries with lime.~~<br />~~		Has blocked your tiny arteries with lime.
	And cut your sap and left its withering trace~~<br />~~		And cut your sap and left its withering trace
	In every wrinkle of your dear old face.~~<br />~~		In every wrinkle of your dear old face.
	No, faithful comrade, I have nought but praise ;~~<br />~~		No, faithful comrade, I have nought but praise ;
	If there were fault, 'twas mine. You walked the ways~~<br />~~		If there were fault, 'twas mine. You walked the ways
	On which I led you, be they low or high.~~<br />~~		On which I led you, be they low or high.
	Thanks for all services ! And so good-bye !		Thanks for all services ! And so good-bye !

	'''The Body to the Soul'''		'''The Body to the Soul'''

	Good-bye, old friend ! You've used me many a year.~~<br />~~		Good-bye, old friend ! You've used me many a year.
	And, as you say, I'm rather out of gear,~~<br />~~		And, as you say, I'm rather out of gear,
	And quite disposed to rest. No doubt you'll find~~<br />~~		And quite disposed to rest. No doubt you'll find
	Some other form congenial to your mind.~~<br />~~		Some other form congenial to your mind.
	And moulded on this wreck you leave behind.~~<br />~~		And moulded on this wreck you leave behind.
	For that, they say, persists. May it be one~~<br />~~		For that, they say, persists. May it be one
	That serves you faithfully, as I have done.~~<br />~~		That serves you faithfully, as I have done.
	Of course its right our partnership to sever~~<br />~~		Of course its right our partnership to sever
	Since I am old and you as young as ever.~~<br />~~		Since I am old and you as young as ever.
	I'll find some cancer cell or handy germ~~<br />~~		I'll find some cancer cell or handy germ
	To bring my waning forces to a term~~<br />~~		To bring my waning forces to a term
	And break the framework of the old machine.~~<br />~~		And break the framework of the old machine.
	Then down at Woking or at Golder's Green~~<br />~~		Then down at Woking or at Golder's Green
	They'll do the trick. And you, friend, from afar,~~<br />~~		They'll do the trick. And you, friend, from afar,
	Will see the oaken chest or cinder jar,~~<br />~~		Will see the oaken chest or cinder jar,
	And know that I have gone without a pang~~<br />~~		And know that I have gone without a pang
	Back to the elements from which I sprang.		Back to the elements from which I sprang.
			</poem>

The Farewell - Revision history

TCDE-Team at 23:03, 4 April 2026

TCDE-Team at 11:51, 18 August 2016