Classic Poem

" Ave, Maria," ages bore the phrase;
" Ave, Maria," epochs bear it still;
For when, submissive to her God's sweet will,
She heard it spoken on that day of days,
It made the epoch then.

" Ave, Maria," not two pretty words
Used by some poets in a convent scene;
Not only for sweet girls in May-time green,
Not only named with flowers and the birds,
But last on lips of men —

Of men in all the ages since our God
Came to this earth to suffer for his sons;
It rose in Caesar's legions, and it runs
In chords sublime wherever any sod
Is soaked with Christian blood.

" Ave, Maria," prelude of the Word;
" Ave, Maria," first on Gabriel's lips;
" Ave, Maria," soft as sound of ships
White-winged and speeding — the sweet words are heard
Upon the world's dark flood.

'Twas last upon the lips of Charlemagne;
False Julian fell when he it uttered not;
Napoleon lost it — 'twas not quite forgot —
And at the end he spoke it not in vain,
Because he spoke it well.

Oh, phrase beloved by angels and by men,
First after " Jesus" named at mother's knee,
Last spoken ere on earth we cease to be —
That gives each in his war the strength of ten,
And frights the hosts of hell.