Classic Poem

As into night's dark velvet dome
A crystal star swings upward from the deep
And gleams across the waters, so he came.
No thunders shook the world; the vaulted blue
Was arched serenely to the bluer sea.
The banners of the flaming dawn were flung
O'er Nevis and afar, when lo! love-born,
And loftily conceived in mind and heart,
This child of destiny first saw the light.
Into that swirling gulf, the red-hot core
Of time's most central revolution, hurled
By hurricane and fire, his soul was fed
On tempests while his child-like heart beguiled
World-music from the surges, in the foam
Found exaltation, conquering the storm
With weapons of the light.

The days were dark
And perilous the paths. The early blasts
That beat upon his honoured chieftain's head
Were tempered by his labours and his love.
Soon as the winds that swept across the sea
Had passed, and while the foaming steeds of state
Were champing on their bits, and eager stood
Impatient of the rein, ambitious each
To lead the cavalcade, he forged those bonds
That to the central purpose held them all
In federal unity, devising laws
To hold the nation firm amid the flood.

He sought and found highroads of wealth and peace
And set the people in the prosperous ways
Of enterprise. From all entanglements
With foreign states held her hot blood aloof,
And won their trust with honour.

Now shall stand,
To speak his worth, one fitting monument,
That mighty modern state his vision planned.
But who shall tell the kindness of his heart,
The gentleness and goodness, all those charms
That made his presence such a joyous thing
To those who felt its sway?

America,
The ages wait, and from their starry spheres,
The patient eyes of immortality,
Hope-lured, look wistful on, while self-regard
Bends justice to the subtle curves of greed
And warps the law.

Shades of the mighty dead!
Some flaming word of love and wrath resound
To call the souls of men to sacrifice.
So shall that splendid dream that flamed his heart—
A federal union of these several states
With central oversight in large affairs—
Become the hope of nations and their plan
For sane and just dominion of a world
Too small for independent governments,
Too vast for rule by persons.