Poems (Rice)/A Tribute
A TRIBUTE.
SOFTLY, ye winds, O sigh softly to-day, No wailing of grief on invisible wings, No notes of sorrow, the bark 's on her way, Transcendent with fame is the burden she brings; Gently, I plead, O fill gently her sails, That safely the pilot intrusted may guide; Suppress now, ye clouds, your lightnings and gales, That peacefully homeward our treasure may glide.
Dark sea, on thy bosom unconsciously bearing A casket more rare than a mountain of gold, In thy caverns no gems are with it comparing; No language can ever his genius unfold; Sing, ye sweet minstrels, your anthems keep trilling, The forests are waiting with laurel and pine, Our gardens and vales their sweets are distilling, That we for the fallen a chaplet may twine.
A chaplet for him; how long is the story Of his deeds and his worth, now low on his bier, Outshining all the bright crown of his glory; Why mourn or why shed for this hero a tear? His mission 's fulfilled, and his labors are o'er, And long as a star in our banner shall float, His name will reëcho from shore unto shore— Our nation rejoice in the name of a Choate.