Home Lyrics: A Book of Poems Part 10

Too painful 'twould be to prolong the tale, Of that which followed, or the piteous wail Of friends bereaved, who sought with harrowing dread, To single out their loved ones from the dead.

Close we, by urging those in power to do What well becomes all rulers wise and true, To make new laws, enforced by vigorous means, To spare all repet.i.tion of such scenes.

Oft will Columbia sing to future time, Of her centennial union sublime But ever with the memorable year, Will mingle memories of this history drear.

THE NAINI TAL CATASTROPHE OF THE 18TH SEPTEMBER, 1880.

The morning broke with streams of welcome rain, Such as the two preceding ones had brought.

Rain, that in tropic climes means life and joy To man and beast as to the thirsty soil And though the sky hung like a sable pall Over the fair oasis, nestling calm Beneath the trusted shelter of the hills, And o'er the broad lake-outlet of the floods, What cause had they to fear? 'Twas often thus, And the long wished-for rains would bring forth joy So reasoned they who, peaceful, viewed unmoved Th' outpouring of that sullen ocean cloud, When suddenly, they who had calmly felt So safe one little span of time before, Discovered in dismay the swollen floods Meant danger--that the safety of their homes.

Was menaced, walls were tottering, waters rose, Sapping foundations, threatening precious life.

Security was lost in maddening fear, And, panic-stricken in disordered haste And direst plight, they quit their homes, and fly To seek a refuge from the merciless, Relentless flood. On, on, they wildly rush, No matter where, so they preserve the lives Of those they dearly, pa.s.sionately love.

Some o'er fierce rolling streams are helped by men In mercy sent to render priceless aid, And happy they, the rescued, who escape, For scarcely had they timely refuge found, Than a huge limb of the great mountain fell, Sweeping the fair hill-side of house and land, And burying dozens of their fellow men In one uncompromising, living tomb!

Brave men with tender hearts and stalwart arms, Regardless of their lives flew quickly there.

Seeking to save their fellows; but, alas!

The task is useless, they are past all aid; The cold earth sepulchres their mortal frames-- Still, hope's star-beacon lures the toilers on, And with stout hearts and mercy sinewed arms, They, toiling, dig, if haply they may save But one poor soul from out the piteous heap.

But as they worked, their honest hearts elate With love-inspiring toil, Oh, sad to tell!

Another ma.s.s, far larger than the last, Fell from the dark flood-loosened mountain side, Burying those n.o.ble men beneath the deep Dank heap, like those they fondly hoped to save.

O n.o.ble band! thy Christ-like heroism Shall be enshrined in deathless memories Outliving time; for rolling ages love To chronicle the history of brave deeds, That spur by their example other minds To acts of heroism such as thine!

Oh! fearful was that avalanche of earth, That in its fury, e'en with lightning speed, Swept to eternity such precious freight!

Strong men in the proud glory of life's prime, Women in joyful trustfulness of love With little children in full bloom of life; All in the twinkling of an eye cut down, In that rude harvest of the tyrant Death!

Now the late lovely valley, Naini Tal Stands as a witness of the frailty Of human strength 'gainst the o'erwhelming might Of forces, which the All Mighty only guides; Proving, that great as oftimes is man's force, It is as nothing, when the elements Proclaim Him monarch of all power and might, In language for the world to comprehend.

TO OUR POLAR EXPLORERS.

Now, welcome home, ye valiant band, By science lured to roam, Thrice welcome to your native land, To Britain's hearth and home; For ye have conquered many a foe, And vanquished many a fear, Since in your country's name ye sailed So bravely forth last year.

Then many a fervent "Good speed ye"

Was wafted from the land, That blent with blessings from the s.h.i.+ps, For those left on the strand.

Hope streaming through each hot tear formed Rainbows of promise sweet, To comfort each lone sundered heart, Till blest again to meet.

But eighteen months have pa.s.sed away Since those farewells were breathed, And ye've accomplished what was wished Without a sword unsheathed.

And with her royal chaplets light Of honour and renown, Your brows of manly fort.i.tude Britain delights to crown.

Ye've had the courage, nerve, and skill, To do, and bravely dare, That which none other save yourselves Have had the joy to share.

In penetrating furthest yet, Into that region lone, Where grim uncompromising ice Girdles the Polar Zone.

"The sea of ancient ice," henceforth Inscribed on the world's chart, Though never of that world to be A sympathetic part; Since mighty floating fortresses, With adamantine towers, Form everlasting barriers grim, That mock man's feebler powers.

Heroic Nares! Commander bold Of the well-ordered band, Accept with thy intrepid crews, Thanks from thy native land, For having with determined zeal, Reached a much longed-for goal, And solved the mystery that veiled The regions of the Pole.

Thus proving inacessible The ice-ribbed polar sea, Ye've earned your laurels valiantly, Still it is well that we Join ye in rendering fervent thanks, To the Supreme above, For safe return in joyous health, To country, home and love.

TO THE INCONSTANT.

Oh! what a change since last we met, when thou wert all my own, And love dictated every word, and sweetened every tone.

Cold and repelling was the gaze that rested on the one Whose heart's devotion, true as steel, thy treachery had won.

Who could have thought that vows exchanged before the G.o.d of heaven, And pledged so solemnly, could be so soon, so rudely riven?

But, false one, I fling back to thee thy hollow, withering gaze, And spurn thee in the bitterest tones my scorn-strung voice can raise.

THANKSGIVING.

Arise, ye valiant warrior hosts, arise!

Now, in the flush of victory, pierce the skies With grateful outbursts of exultant praise.

Such as victorious hosts alone can raise,

To the great G.o.d of nations, Lord of lords, Who in your pride of conquests sheathes your swords, And claims your rapturous homage from afar, For all the brilliant exploits of the war.

Let the majestic paeans heavenward sent, Be with united voice of Britain blent; Like measured thunders the grand anthem swell, A nation's fervent grat.i.tude to tell.

And yet another strain of prayer outpour For the lamented victims of the war.

And for our Queen, who now delights to crown Her brave commanders with deserved renown.

G.o.d bless these mighty men of mind and power, Who led the well-trained hosts in war's dread hour, Crus.h.i.+ng rebellion, bidding rapine cease; Then, with heroic valour, courting peace.