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Saturday, November 29, 2008

Poem: Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers

LANDING OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS
by: Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1793-1835)

HE breaking waves dashed high
On a stern and rock-bound coast,
And the woods against a stormy sky
Their giant branches tossed;

And the heavy night hung dark,
The hills and waters o'er,
When a band of exiles moored their bark
On the wild New England shore.

Not as the conqueror comes,
They, the true-hearted came;
Not with the roll of the stirring drums,
And the trumpet that sings of fame;

Not as the flying come,
In silence and in fear;
They shook the depths of the desert gloom
With their hymns of lofty cheer.

Amidst the storm they sang,
And the stars heard, and the sea;
And the sounding aisles of the dim woods rang
To the anthem of the free.

The ocean eagle soared
From his nest by the white wave's foam;
And the rocking pines of the forest roared--
This was their welcome home.

There were men with hoary hair
Amidst the pilgrim band:
Why had they come to wither there,
Away from their childhood's land?

There was woman's fearless eye,
Lit by her deep love's truth;
There was manhood's brow, serenely high,
And the fiery heart of youth.

What sought they thus afar?
Bright jewels of the mine?
The wealth of seas, the spoils of war?
They sought a faith's pure shrine!

Ay, call it holy ground,
The soil where first they trod;
They have left unstained what there they found --
Freedom to worship God.

2 comments:

KM Wilsher said...

Great poem; great rythm! Loved the last few lines! Thanks for sharing. Thanks for the comments on my very first blog book review! Very valid thoughts - I am asking people to read your review. Hope you had a great turkey day. Again, loved the poem!
GZ

Travis said...

I love poetry, but that one has now topped my list of favorites. I thank you kindly for sharing it with us. Your blog is always a pleasant journey for the obscure, yet significant, literary treasures you present.