Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CONQUERED AT LAST, by MARIA LOUISA EVE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CONQUERED AT LAST, by                    
First Line: You came to us once, o brothers, in wrath
Last Line: "and ""conquered by kindness"" we'll write on our heart."
Subject(s): Hearts; Kindness


You came to us once, O brothers, in wrath,
And rude desolation followed your path.

You conquered us then, but only in part,
For a stubborn thing is the human heart.

So the mad wind blows in his might and main,
And the forests bend to his breath like grain,

Their heads in the dust and their branches broke;
But how shall he soften their hearts of oak?

You swept o'er our land like the whirlwind's wing,
But the human heart is a stubborn thing.

We laid down our arms, we yielded our will,
But our heart of heart was unconquered still.

"We are vanquished," we said, "but our wounds must heal;"
We gave you our swords, but our hearts were steel.

"We are conquered," we said, but our hearts were sore,
And "woe to the conquered" on every door.

But the spoiler came and he would not spare,
And the angel that walketh in darkness was there: --

He walked through the valley, walked through the street,
And he left the print of his fiery feet

In the dead, dead, dead, that were everywhere,
And buried away with never a prayer.

From the desolate land, from its very heart,
There went forth a cry to the uttermost part: --

You heard it, O brothers! -- With never a measure
You opened your hearts, and poured out your treasure.

O Sisters of Mercy, you gave above these!
For you helped, we know, on your bended knees.

Your pity was human, but oh! it was more,
When you shared our cross and our burden bore.

Your lives in your hands you stood by our side;
Your lives for our lives -- you lay down and died.

And no greater love hath a man to give,
Than to lay down his life that his friends may live.

You poured in our wounds the oil and the wine
That you brought to us from a Hand Divine.

You conquered us once, and our swords we gave;
We yield now our hearts -- they are all we have.

Our last trench was there, and it held out long;
It is yours, O friends! and you'll find it strong.

Your love had a magic diviner than art,
And "Conquered by Kindness" we'll write on our heart.





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