Poems (Dudley)/Modern Missionary Hymn

by Marion Vienna Churchill Dudley

MODERN MISSIONARY HYMN.

O WHITE wings flying eastward, O white wings flying west,O steam-throats speaking blessings Across the ocean's breast!Ye are the mighty agents That link our human hands,And tell a common heaven, To near and distant lands.

Fair Commerce!—Groveling Priestess, They say who know thee not,—Thy rising fame shall brighten Till darkness is forgot;Earth ever crowns the victor to whom is honor due And hands shall twine the laurelWho plait for thee the rue;

Thy silent voice, firm speaking, Swung wide the ponderous doors,That hid the sleeping nations On Oriental shores;Pacific's "Island Empire" Unclosed her almond eyes,And met the new effulgence With radiant, glad surprise;

While tawny-skinned Celestials, Behind their moldering wall,Shook oft their poppied slumber And answered to thy call;Old India, torpid, drunken With wine of elder years,Revives to sing the music Thou'rt sounding in her ears;

Sweep on, O stately Priestess! Speed swift from main to main;Not King nor Nation scorneth To swell thy splendid train;The poor ones rise to bless thee, The lowly and the proudAlike shall send before thee Their acclamations loud.

Thou Muse of future Poets! Thou prayer we've prayed so long!Speed on to swift fulfilment The vision and the song;Upon the mighty headlands Where Prophet's rainbows play,Behold, we catch the dawning And glory of thy day!