Poems (Henderson)/To Whittier
TO WHITTIER.
Oh! true sweet singer, would the gift,
Of radiant song were mine,
That to thine ear some tribute sweet,
Of tuneful blessing I might bring.
For oft my soul upon the sea,
Of Time, her rudder lost,
Her port of Heaven dimly viewed,
By earthly tempests tossed,
Hath taken from thy genial rhyme,
Courage, and faith, and love,
Hath climbed thy golden stairs of song,
To glimpse of peace above.
Of radiant song were mine,
That to thine ear some tribute sweet,
Of tuneful blessing I might bring.
For oft my soul upon the sea,
Of Time, her rudder lost,
Her port of Heaven dimly viewed,
By earthly tempests tossed,
Hath taken from thy genial rhyme,
Courage, and faith, and love,
Hath climbed thy golden stairs of song,
To glimpse of peace above.
Oh! if it be that souls in Heaven,
Shall know each other there,
When all her pearly gates unfold,
And angel hands thy soul shall bear
Unto the great white throne of light,
What rapturous psalms shall greet thine ear,
The freedman's glad thanksgiving hymn,
Thine entranced soul shall hear.
Shall know each other there,
When all her pearly gates unfold,
And angel hands thy soul shall bear
Unto the great white throne of light,
What rapturous psalms shall greet thine ear,
The freedman's glad thanksgiving hymn,
Thine entranced soul shall hear.
The golden light that to thy brow,
The poet's crown hath given,
Brightening all thy peaceful ways,
Shall brighter shine in Heaven.
For in the paths of Truth and Right,
Long have thy pure feet trod,
One creed thy faithful pen upheld,
"Humanity and God."
The poet's crown hath given,
Brightening all thy peaceful ways,
Shall brighter shine in Heaven.
For in the paths of Truth and Right,
Long have thy pure feet trod,
One creed thy faithful pen upheld,
"Humanity and God."
