Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE CHRIST OF PANAMA, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE CHRIST OF PANAMA, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Down in the heart of the world
Last Line: Set we the image of christ!
Subject(s): Jesus Christ; Panama Canal; Peace; Statues; Canal Zone


Down in the heart of the world,
Panama, portal unpriced,
There let the war-flags be furled!
Raise there the image of Christ!

There, where the nations will meet,
Salute, nor tarry nor stay,
By the pelagian street,
Set we the Light and the Way.

There, where the navies will go
Till navy and army shall cease,
There, for the friend and the foe,
Place we the Prince of our Peace.

Brotherly welcoming hands,
Loverly welcoming eyes,
Christ of the unified lands,
Christ of the opening skies!

Write on the pedestal forth,
Write with a gold-flowing pen,
"Peace on the blossoming earth,
Peace and good will unto men!"

This be our guns and our fort,
This has forever sufficed,
This a resistless resort,
The presence and power of Christ!

Stronger than granite wall,
Stronger than bursting shell,
Words of brotherhood fall,
Hands of friendship compel.

Christians! Exult in His throne,
Fount of all glory and grace.
Warriors! He is your own,
Chief of the conquerors' race.

Patriots! Born to command,
King of the nations is He,
Lord of the brotherly land,
Lord of the sisterly sea.

South on the Andean height,
Pierced for the passage of trade,
See the imperial sight,
See what two nations have made.

Two, long sundered in twain,
Bound fraternally now;
Forever the bond shall remain,
Christ of the Andes, Thou!

What for the two is done,
Happily do for all,
Till in the course of the sun
Never the war-notes call!

Then an Atlantis fair
Each of our shores will be,
And ocean everywhere
One vast Pacific sea!

Yes, in the heart of the world,
Panama, portal unpriced,
There, the world-banner unfurled,
Set we the image of Christ!





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