Part 32 (1/2)
AMERICA'S WAY
But thou, my country, though no fault be thine For that red horror far across the sea; Though not a tortured wretch can point to thee, And curse thee for the selfishness supine Of those great Powers that cowardly combine To s.h.i.+eld the Turk in his iniquity; Yet, since thy hand is innocent and free, Arise, and show the world the way divine!
Thou canst not break the oppressor's iron rod, But thou canst help and comfort the oppressed; Thou canst not loose the captive's heavy chain, But thou canst bind his wounds and soothe his pain.
Armenia calls thee, Sovereign of the West, To play the Good Samaritan for G.o.d.
1896.
SICILY, DECEMBER, 1908
O garden isle, beloved by Sun and Sea, Whose bluest billows kiss thy curving bays, Whose light infolds thy hills with golden rays, Filling with fruit each dark-leaved orange-tree, What hidden hatred hath the Earth for thee, That once again, in these dark, dreadful days, Breaks forth in trembling rage, and swiftly lays Thy beauty waste in wreck and agony!
Is Nature, then, a strife of jealous powers, And man the plaything of unconscious fate?
Not so, my troubled heart! G.o.d reigns above, And man is greatest in his darkest hours.
Walking amid the cities desolate, Behold the Son of G.o.d in human love!
Tertius and Henry van d.y.k.e.
”COME BACK AGAIN, JEANNE D'ARC”
The land was broken in despair, The princes quarrelled in the dark, When clear and tranquil, through the troubled air Of selfish minds and wills that did not dare, Your star arose, Jeanne d'Arc.
O virgin breast with lilies white, O sun-burned hand that bore the lance, You taught the prayer that helps men to unite, You brought the courage equal to the fight, You gave a heart to France!
Your king was crowned, your country free, At Rheims you had your soul's desire: And then, at Rouen, maid of Domremy, The black-robed judges gave your victory The martyr's crown of fire.
And now again the times are ill, And doubtful leaders miss the mark; The people lack the single faith and will To make them one,--your country needs you still,-- Come back again, Jeanne d'Arc!
O woman-star, arise once more And s.h.i.+ne to bid your land advance: The old heroic trust in G.o.d restore, Renew the brave, unselfish hopes of yore, And give a heart to France!
Paris, July, 1909.
NATIONAL MONUMENTS
Count not the cost of honour to the dead!
The tribute that a mighty nation pays To those who loved her well in former days Means more than grat.i.tude for glories fled; For every n.o.ble man that she hath bred, Lives in the bronze and marble that we raise, Immortalised by art's immortal praise, To lead our sons as he our fathers led.
These monuments of manhood strong and high Do more than forts or battle-s.h.i.+ps to keep Our dear-bought liberty. They fortify The heart of youth with valour wise and deep; They build eternal bulwarks, and command Immortal hosts to guard our native land.
February, 1905.