 | Coffin's Poems with Ajax' Ordeals |  |
Y. M. C. A. Founder.
Sir Geo. Williams.
Sir George Williams, noble man,
Half 'cent'ry 've passed away,
Since thou first didst raise thy hand
To start the Y. M. C. A.
Half 'cent'ry 've passed away,
Since thou first didst raise thy hand
To start the Y. M. C. A.
One little room marked the spot,
A few common chairs therein;
And now all o'er the universe,
Its sifting the souls of men.
A few common chairs therein;
And now all o'er the universe,
Its sifting the souls of men.
A few young men, only a few,
Paid any heed to thee,
Today thou'rt heard in all the lands,
Thou'rt spread from sea to sea.
Paid any heed to thee,
Today thou'rt heard in all the lands,
Thou'rt spread from sea to sea.
76
I think how many a thousand,
Of reckless, wayward men,
Have caught the inspiration,
And moved off from their sins.
Of reckless, wayward men,
Have caught the inspiration,
And moved off from their sins.
I think of countless mothers,
Whose hearts have leaped with joy,
Because this, thy noble work,
Has saved their reckless boy.
Whose hearts have leaped with joy,
Because this, thy noble work,
Has saved their reckless boy.
I think of unborn millions,
Who yet must take the stage,
Who, only through this noble work
Can face the future age.
Who yet must take the stage,
Who, only through this noble work
Can face the future age.
“Forever and forever,
As long as life has woes,”
Thy name shall be re-echoed
On time's terrestrial shores.
As long as life has woes,”
Thy name shall be re-echoed
On time's terrestrial shores.
If only I might see thee,
To gaze upon thy face,
To grasp thy hand, to hear thee speak,
Then I could be embraced.
To gaze upon thy face,
To grasp thy hand, to hear thee speak,
Then I could be embraced.
I think I could go forward,
With brave and joyful heart,
Though every step should pierce me,
With untold fiery dart.
With brave and joyful heart,
Though every step should pierce me,
With untold fiery dart.
77
But I must be contented,
With thy likeness and thy name,
For countless millions now rejoice,
Upon thy spreading fame.
With thy likeness and thy name,
For countless millions now rejoice,
Upon thy spreading fame.
And I am left to wonder, such
That I may stretch my hand,
To some still wearier traveler
In this same shadow land.
That I may stretch my hand,
To some still wearier traveler
In this same shadow land.
I gaze upon thy likeness,
As young men's earthly sage,
Thy work is old and thriving,
But thou show'st not thy age.
As young men's earthly sage,
Thy work is old and thriving,
But thou show'st not thy age.
Dear sir, thou art not old,
Though half a century now,
May write its ragged wrinkles,
Up and down thy brow.
Though half a century now,
May write its ragged wrinkles,
Up and down thy brow.
And even sorrow may with
A shroud thy heart enfold,
Thou art not now, and no,
Thou never will be old.
A shroud thy heart enfold,
Thou art not now, and no,
Thou never will be old.
| Coffin's Poems with Ajax' Ordeals | |