Poems (Howard)/Sympathy
For works with similar titles, see Sympathy.
Sympathy.
So oft the telegraphic wire Repeats some startling, harrowing tale Of crime and famine, flood and fire, Of bitter want or sorrow's wail, That many a sympathetic soul Which once a touch of nature stirred Indifferent grows, until the whole Is heard but as an idle word.
But cold indeed the heart must be That is not turned by pity's weight To that lone city by the sea, In ashes sitting desolate; Her hapless, homeless people fled, Or crouching low by ruined walls, Unfed, unclad, uncomforted— A scene humanity appalls.
When proud Chicago writhed in flame— The glory of our great Northwest—From Texas, Southern sister, came Relief surpassing all the rest; When Pestilence o'erswept the land And Life and Hope were almost gone,Benevolence the distance spanned And help went out from Galveston.
And when we strove in battle's heat And combated the nation's foe, Some hearts there were that loyal beat Along the Gulf of Mexico; So let these memories ever live And bind us like a golden chain, Till by the aid that we shall give The sufferer revives attain.