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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE JESUIT MISSIONARIES, by BEATRICE WITTE RAVENEL Poet's Biography
First Line: Like soldiers they took their orders
Last Line: Fathers of american history!
Subject(s): Jesuits; Missions & Missionaries
First Line: Like soldiers they took their orders
Last Line: Fathers of american history!
Subject(s): Jesuits; Missions & Missionaries
Like soldiers they took their orders,
Marching to certain glory.
And like soldiers they wrote
From the front back to headquarters;
No compromise to flatter a difficult public,
But cogent reports to their General,
Stark awful reality.
Scourged, bitten with fire,
Battling with beasts, with fever, with a novel and strange demonology;
In the face of long and fastidious torture,
They saved, like feathery, spring-leaved brands plucked from the burning,
The souls of red children.
They were nowise concerned whether the climate
Might pamper a wife, what education
Might nourish her offspring.
Traveling light, going alone and farthest,
They followed the Spirit.
Many have followed their way --
Makers of books and of records
Turning to splendid names:
Brebeuf, Daniel, Raymbault,
Jogues, first light to the Mohawk.
There is the fruitful witness --
The foot-notes rise up, call them blessed --
Fathers of American History!
Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!
Other Poems of Interest...
THE ENGLISH GRAVEYARD IN MALACCA by KAREN SWENSON
THE FOREIGN VOLUNTEERS AT MOTHER TERESA'S by KAREN SWENSON
EPITAPH ON HENRY MARTYN by THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY
THE CAPTURE OF LUCKNOW by WILLIAM MCGONAGALL
FATHER LUCIEN GALTIER by HELEN LETHERT MEIER
MORAVIAN MISSIONS by JAMES MONTGOMERY
THE GENESIS OF A MISSIONARY by FREDERICK WILLIAM HENRY MYERS
THE ALLIGATOR by BEATRICE WITTE RAVENEL