Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THOMAS AND NANCY LINCOLN, by EDNA DEAN PROCTOR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THOMAS AND NANCY LINCOLN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Fit us for humblest service,' prayed
Last Line: Will hallow their repose.
Alternate Author Name(s): Dean
Subject(s): Freedom; Indiana; Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865); Lincoln, Nancy Hanks (1784-1818); Lincoln, Thomas (1778-1851); Parents; Presidents, United States; Liberty; Parenthood


'FIT us for humblest service,' prayed
This kindly, reverent man,
Content to hold a lowly place
In God's eternal plan;
Content by prairie, wood, and stream,
The common lot to share,
Or help a neighbor in his need
Some grievous weight to bear —
Then trustfully resigned the life
That had fulfilled his prayer.

And she in Indiana's woods
This many a year who lies,
Mother and wife whose yearning soul
Looked sadly from her eyes;
Who, dying, called her children close
As the last shadow fell,
And bade them ever worship God
And love each other well —
Then to her forest grave was borne,
The wind her funeral knell;

So drear, so lone, who could have dreamed
The boy her bed beside,
Forth from that narrow door would walk
Among earth's glorified?
But lo! his name from sea to sea
Gives patriotism wings;
Upon his brow a crown is set
Grander than any king's;
And to these fameless graves his fame
Tender remembrance brings.

Ah! still the humble God doth choose
The mighty to confound;
Still them that fear and follow Him
His angel campeth round;
And while by Indiana's woods
Ohio murmuring flows,
And Illinois' green levels shine
In sunset's parting glows, —
While Liberty is dear, our hearts
Will hallow their repose.





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