Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A TRIBUTE TO HENRY M. STANLEY; THE GREAT AFRICAN EXPLORER, by WILLIAM MCGONAGALL



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A TRIBUTE TO HENRY M. STANLEY; THE GREAT AFRICAN EXPLORER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Welcome, thrice welcome, to the city of dundee
Last Line: And play up, see the conquering hero comes!
Subject(s): Dundee, Scotland; Explorers; Heroism; Stanley, Sir Henry Morton (1841-1904); Travel; Exploring; Discovery; Discoverers; Heroes; Heroines; Rowlands, John; Journeys; Trips


WELCOME, thrice welcome, to the City of Dundee
The great African explorer, Henry M. Stanley,
Who went out to Africa its wild regions to explore,
And travelled o'er wild and lonely deserts, fatigued and footsore.

And what he and his little band suffered will never be forgot
Especially one in particular, Major Edmund Barttelot,
Alas! the brave heroic officer by a savage was shot,
The commandant of the rear column—O hard has been his lot!

O think of the noble Stanley and his gallant little band,
While travelling through gloomy forests and devastated land
And suffering from all kinds of hardships under a burning sun!
But the brave hero has been successful, and the victory's won!

While in Africa he saw many wonderful sights,
And was engaged, no doubt, in many savage fights,
But the wise Creator was with him all along,
And now he's home again to us, I hope quite strong.

And during his travels in Africa he made strange discoveries,
He discovered a dwarfish race of people called pigmies,
Who are said to be the original natives of Africa,
And when Stanley discovered them he was struck with awe.

One event in particular is most worthy to relate,
How God preserved him from a very cruel fate:
He and his officers were attacked, while sailing in their boat,
By the savages of Bumbireh, all eager to cut his throat.

They seized him by the hair, and tugged it without fear,
While one of his men received a poke in the ribs with a spear;
But Stanley, having presence of mind, instantly contrives
To cry to his men, Shove off the boat, and save your lives!

Then savages swarmed into three canoes very close by,
And every bow was drawn, while they savagely did cry;
But the heroic Stanley quickly shot two of them dead,
Then the savages were baffled, and immediately fled.

This incident is startling, but nevertheless true,
And in the midst of all dangers, the Lord brought him through,
Then, welcome him, thrice welcome him, right cheerfully,
Shouting, Long live the great African explorer, Henry M. Stanley!

Therefore throw open the gates of the City of Dundee,
And receive him with loud cheers, three times three,
And sound your trumpets and beat your drums,
And play up, See the Conquering Hero Comes!





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