 | Poems, Ballads and Bucolics |  |
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FATHER DAMIEN.
Father Damien is dead,
Mourn for Father Damien,
He who broke the leper's bread,
Most compassionate of men.
Mourn for Father Damien,
He who broke the leper's bread,
Most compassionate of men.
Crowns of gold to kings we give,
But for those who life lay down
That their brother men may live,
Immortality is crown.
But for those who life lay down
That their brother men may live,
Immortality is crown.
Lilies bring, bring passion flower,
Strew white poppies o'er his sleep,
Damien's love could charm with power
Gardens from the barren steep;
Strew white poppies o'er his sleep,
Damien's love could charm with power
Gardens from the barren steep;
Not a lava-bed but gave
Fruit and fragrance to his hand,
Wherefore over Damien's grave
Let the blossoming roses stand.
Fruit and fragrance to his hand,
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Let the blossoming roses stand.
Fierce the “Cona” winds may blow,
Howling down the northern heights,
Round our huts as white as snow
Moan by day and roar by nights.
Howling down the northern heights,
Round our huts as white as snow
Moan by day and roar by nights.
Damien hears them not, no more
Breasts the blast to bring us aid,
He has reached a stormless shore
Where the winds of God are laid.
Breasts the blast to bring us aid,
He has reached a stormless shore
Where the winds of God are laid.
Red as rubies flash the birds
Over Damien's resting-place—
So like rubies flashed his words
When he gave us heart of grace.
Over Damien's resting-place—
So like rubies flashed his words
When he gave us heart of grace.
Fair as foam the sea-birds flew
Glad when Damien passed them by—
Free as foam his love, we knew,
Hovered over Molokai.
Glad when Damien passed them by—
Free as foam his love, we knew,
Hovered over Molokai.
Southward look by sea and shore
How the great fire-fountains toss!
So burned on the zeal he bore,
So flames out at night our loss.
How the great fire-fountains toss!
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So flames out at night our loss.
He who staunched the leper's sore,
He who bade the leper smile,
He who taught us holy lore,
Gave us faith and blessed our isle;
He who bade the leper smile,
He who taught us holy lore,
Gave us faith and blessed our isle;
Built us homes, from beasts made men,
Out of madness and despair
Wrought sweet patience—Damien—
Damien has ceased from care.
Out of madness and despair
Wrought sweet patience—Damien—
Damien has ceased from care.
Seas less sapphire, skies less blue
Meet in Kalawao's bay,
Fish that swam, of iris hue,
Through the corals cease their play.
Meet in Kalawao's bay,
Fish that swam, of iris hue,
Through the corals cease their play.
Desolate the forest yearns,
Where the south wind holds its breath,
Murmuring move the tall tree-ferns,
Sighing as for Damien's death.
Where the south wind holds its breath,
Murmuring move the tall tree-ferns,
Sighing as for Damien's death.
Hark! from Molokai a call,
Wailing, weeping up the glen,
“Lord, have mercy on us all,
Reft of Father Damien.”
Wailing, weeping up the glen,
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Reft of Father Damien.”
Who shall strive our woes to heal,
Give the sick ones drink and food,
Who shall make the leper feel
Joy in human brotherhood?
Give the sick ones drink and food,
Who shall make the leper feel
Joy in human brotherhood?
Who shall teach us God is love—
God we cursed for this our ill—
Who by sacrifice shall prove
Christ the Lord is with us still?
God we cursed for this our ill—
Who by sacrifice shall prove
Christ the Lord is with us still?
Who will show us gain from loss,
Bid us faint not on our way,
Bear uphill our heavy cross
Till we reach our Golgotha?
Bid us faint not on our way,
Bear uphill our heavy cross
Till we reach our Golgotha?
So the lepers wail and wail,
Down the shore and up the glen;
Shall their sorrow nought avail
Crying still for Damien?
Down the shore and up the glen;
Shall their sorrow nought avail
Crying still for Damien?
Yea, at night, when on the wave
Winds are hushed, and no birds cry
Comes a voice from Damien's grave,
Sounding out to Molokai:
Winds are hushed, and no birds cry
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Sounding out to Molokai:
“Leper men no longer weep
Though ye now seem fatherless;
Damien has but entered sleep
Damien's spirit lives to bless!”
Though ye now seem fatherless;
Damien has but entered sleep
Damien's spirit lives to bless!”
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