Poems : patriotic, religious, miscellaneous / by Abram J. Ryan [electronic text]
About this Item
Title
Poems : patriotic, religious, miscellaneous / by Abram J. Ryan [electronic text]
Author
Ryan, Abram Joseph, 1836-1886
Publication
Baltimore, Md.: John B. Piet & Co.
1884
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"Poems : patriotic, religious, miscellaneous / by Abram J. Ryan [electronic text]." In the digital collection American Verse Project. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/BAD9548.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 1, 2024.
Pages
IN MEMORY OF VERY REV. J. B. ETIENNE,
SUPERIOR GENERAL OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE MISSION AND OF THE SISTERS OF CHARITY.
A shadow slept folded in vestments,The dream of a smile on its face,Dim, soft as the gleam after sunsetThat hangs like a halo of graceWhere the daylight hath died in the valley,And the twilight hath taken its place—
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A shadow! but still on the mortalThere rested the tremulous traceOf the joy of a spirit immortal,Passed up to its God in His grace.
A shadow! hast seen in the summerA cloud wear the smile of the sun?On the shadow of death there is flashingThe glory of noble deeds done;On the face of the dead there is glowingThe light of a holy race run;And the smile of the face is reflectingThe gleam of the crown he has won.Still, shadow! sleep on in the vestmentsUnstained by the priest who has gone.
And thro' all the nations the childrenOf Vincent de Paul wail his loss;But the glory that crowns him in heavenIllumines the gloom of their cross.They send to the shadow the tributeOf tears, from the fountains of love,And they send from their altars sweet prayersTo the throne of their Father above.
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Yea! sorrow weeps over the shadow,But faith looks aloft to the skies;And hope, like a rainbow, is flashingO'er the tears that rain down from their eyes.They murmur on earth "De profundis,"The low chant is mingled with sighs;"Laudate" rings out through the heavens —The dead priest hath won his faith's prize.
His children in sorrow will honorHis grave; every tear is a gem,And their prayers round his brow in the heavensWill brighten his fair diadem.I kneel at his grave and remember,In love, I am still one of them.
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