Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A WELCOME TO LINCOLN'S REMAINS, by MARTHA A. PARKS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A WELCOME TO LINCOLN'S REMAINS, by                    
First Line: Illinois' immortal son
Last Line: Resting on her breast.
Subject(s): American Civil War; Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865); Presidents, United States; U.s. - History


Illinois' immortal son --
The tribute so justly won,
Columbia has given --
In her dark hour she called thee forth,
Beloved champion of the North;
And her deep anguish proves thy worth,
Mighty conqueror!

Illinois welcomes thee,
Beloved father of the "Free,"
Thy ashes pure.
Mournfully, tenderly,
Martyr for Liberty;
With heart bruised she weeps for thee,
Mighty President!

Spotless thy patriot fame;
No weakness mars thy name --
Martyr sublime.
Malice and envy thou hadst none,
But charity for every one,
And tears for each suffering son,
In thy field of Mars.

Then welcome home to rest,
Father beloved and blest,
In thy chosen State.
Illinois you have honored long;
And your mighty deed in song,
Will gloriously pass along,
With ages yet to come.

Yes, Illinois welcomes thee;
And with deep sympathy
And gratitude,
She receives her honored dead --
The martyr whose blood was shed,
While he for the traitors plead,
With lofty zeal.

Tried, scarred, bleeding country,
Ye sons of the martyred free,
Behold the tomb,
Where Lincoln in honor rests --
The lover of righteousness,
And friend of the poor oppress'd --
It breathes to you.

It bids you nobly on,
Until the last victory is won,
"In life's short day."
His glorious way-marks view,
Onward, onward pursue,
The way he marked out for you --
Columbia's patriot.

Rest, then beloved father rest;
From thy finished labors rest,
Martyr benign.
Rest here, in honor rest;
And oh! may thy mantle chaste,
Rest on him who in anguish pass'd
To thy illustrious place.

Representative for God and man,
Rest beloved "Father Abraham,"
While we guard thy shrine.
While with reverence our bruised hearts glow;
While our tears still profusely flow;
While our cheeks tinge with shame to know,
How the mighty fell.

With fidelity we'll guard the shrine,
Where reposed thy dust sublime --
Martyr for the free.
Illinois winds will mournfully
Chant ever tenderly,
A requiem for the martyr'd free,
Resting on her breast.





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