Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FATHER LUCIEN GALTIER, by HELEN LETHERT MEIER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FATHER LUCIEN GALTIER, by                    
First Line: To mississippi shores, in april, eighteen-forty
Last Line: From this a city sprang ... Undying pioneer!
Subject(s): Missions & Missionaries; St. Paul, Minnesota


To Mississippi shores, in April, eighteen-forty,
Came a young, zealous missionary, priestly vows
Still vibrant on his lips and deep within his heart
While chrism's fragrance calmly lingered on his brow.
A child of distant France, and graciously endowed
With all the strength and fervor of his countrymen,
He came in love, and faith, and hope to pioneer
In Minnesota's wilderness. A simple life,
With all its thievery of comfort, leisure, ease,
Could not subdue his buoyancy, nor rock his faith.

Fort Snelling's foothill joyed the day he came -- a will
Impenetrable as the sturdy tower -- and strong
As the Great Water steered his crude pastoral bark.
He gathered men with faith that smoldered, and the Sioux,
To lift their eyes that they might look beyond the rainbow;
That they might know and feel the bond of "brotherhood."

Thus, in the month of flaming leaves a rough-log chapel
Was built by kindled hearts and toiling, weathered hands.
He blest it on "All Saints" and named it for St. Paul....
From this a city sprang ... undying pioneer!





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