REQUIEM.

New Zealand Graphic, 27 June 1906, Page 64

REQUIEM.

BY JOHANNES C. ANDERSEN. Author of ‘‘Songs Unsung” and the Exhibition Ode.” Rest, Premier, rest: The end of strife has come, Thy strenuous life has reached its peaceful close: Throughout the land is hushed its busy hum. With slackened pulse the life within It flows: What grief was this, that held a people dumb? From each has passed a dear-loved, faithful friend. And wet, blurred eyes are dim to see the end To this our woe of woes; Rest, Premier, rest: Sleep, Leader, sleep. Whose arduour never slept: Thy teeming brain has borne abundant fruit; Before thy fellows thou hast proudly stept, Regardless of flung scorn and rancour’s bruit. Whom thou hast led thou leavest, not unwept; Though blossoms fall, the fruit will yet mature; Thy works with thy youns nation will endure. Deep runs their well-struck root; Sleep. Leader, sleep. Rest. Toiler, rest; In regions of dim dawn. Through social wildernesses thou hast led. Nor climbed alone, but all thy people drawn To sunny heights; but now thou liest dead, Like that old seer on Pisgah’s upland lawn: Though we behold the land of promise near, Our leader leaves us with our hope, our fear— God called him; bow the head. Rest, Toiler, rest. Peace, Statesman, peace. Do we with blinded eyes. And hearts too fond, exalt thee o’er thy peers ? A voice, no echo of our own, replies (And each sad heart rejoices as it hears) “Of him who now forever silent lies We know* the worth; a life vet promisefilled Has passed away; a mighty heart is stilled.” With our tears flow their tears; Peace, Statesman, peace. Sleep. Father, sleep. To prove the love we bear, May we accomplish that by thee begun; NX hat thou triumphant daredst, may we dare: What thou wouldst do. may that bv us be done. Fat her 1 thyself thou wouldst not respite, spare— Shall we then sit and wait? Nav, rather spend Our lives as thine was spent, that so our end. Like thine, may worth declare. Sleep, Father, sleep. Rest, Premier, rest: Premier in every deed As we have known, as sister States have known. Thy words prophetic hitherward did speed—“l leave for God’s own country,” and alone We wait, and hope, yes, hope, with hearts that bleed. Thy soul was borne from life that knows not ease. Thy body tossed upon the billowy seas, Mid brackisbness and moan. Rest, Premier, rest. Sleep, loved one. sleep; Our cheeks with waiting burned. Through calm, cold nights, and frore midwinter days: No heart but day and night to theeward turned. No eye but seawards did expectant graze; No friend but for his leal true comrade yearned. Thy faults though seen, what could they but endear Thee to us all?—and now thou canst not hear Our sorrow or our praise; Sleep, loved one, sleep. Peace. War-king, peace: Triumphant In the fight. In midst of victory thou hast found thine end: Old errors vanquished, 10l the cause of right Has found thee life-long champion, lifelung friend. The nation thou hast welded moves la might. And as thyself was known o’er sea and land. May it in van of nations purely stand; And now—God us defend. Peace, War-king, peace.