Poems

Knelt worshiping at mammon's shrine.

This is the hour! Corruption's band
Is driven back; and periled right,
Rescued by the "fanatic" hand,
Spans our broad heaven of light.

Righteousness ne'er – awestruck or dumb —
Feared for an hour the tyrant's heel!
Injustice to the combat sprang;
God to the rescue – Liberty, peal!

Joy is in every belfry bell —
Joy for the captive! Sound it long!
Ye who have wept fourscore can tell
The holy meaning of their song.

'Tis freedom's birthday – blood-bought boon!
O war-rent flag! O soldier-shroud!
Thine be the glory – nor too soon
Is heard your "Cry aloud!"

O not too soon is rent the chain
And charter, trampling right in dust!
Till God is God no longer – ne'er again
Quench liberty that's just.

    Lynn, Mass., February 3, 1865.

"MEMENTO"

Respectfully inscribed to my friends in Lynn.

I come to thee
O'er the moonlit sea,
When the hoarse wave revisits thy shore!
When waters shout,
And the stars peep out,
I am with thee in spirit once more.

Then list the moan
Of the billows' foam,
Laving with surges thy silv'ry beach!
Night's dewy eye,
The sea-mew's lone cry,
Witness my presence and utter my speech.

Pleasant a grave
By the "Rock" or wave,
And afar from life's turmoil its goal.
No sculptured lie,
Or hypocrite sigh,
E'er to mock the bright truth of the soul.

Friends, will not ye
Think kindly of me,
In those moments to memory bestowed?
Smile on me yet,
O blue eyes and jet,
Soft as when parting thy sympathy glowed!

    March 3, 1867.

COMMUNION HYMN

Saw ye my Saviour? Heard ye the glad sound?
Felt ye the power of the Word?
'Twas the Truth that made us free,
And was found by you and me
In the life and the love of our Lord.

Mourner, it calls you, – "Come to my bosom,
Love wipes your tears all away,
And will lift the shade of gloom,
And for you make radiant room
Midst the glories of one endless day."

Sinner, it calls you, – "Come to this fountain,
Cleanse the foul senses within;
'Tis the Spirit that makes pure,
That exalts thee, and will cure
All thy sorrow and sickness and sin."

Strongest deliverer, friend of the friendless,
Life of all being divine:
Thou the Christ, and not the creed;
Thou the Truth in thought and deed;
Thou the water, the bread, and the wine.

LAUS DEO!

The laying of the corner-stone of The Mother Church.

Laus Deo, it is done!
Rolled away from loving heart
Is a stone.
Lifted higher, we depart,
Having one.

Laus Deo, – on this rock