To him, whose loyal, brave, and gentle heart, Fulfilled the hero's and the patriot's part, -- Whose charity, like that which Paul enjoined, Was warm, beneficent, and unconfined, -- This stone is reared: to public duty true, The seaman's friend, the father of his crew; Mild in reproof, sagacious in command, He spread fraternal zeal throughout his band, And led each arm to act, each heart to feel, What British valor owes to Britain's weal. These were his public virtues; -- but to trace His private life's fair purity and grace, To paint the traits that drew affection strong From friends, an ample and an ardent throng, And, more, to speak his memory's grateful claim On her who mourns him most, and bears his name- O'ercomes the trembling hand of widowed grief, O'ercomes the heart, unconscious of relief, Save in religion's high and holy trust, Whilst placing their memorial o'er his dust. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SMALL SELF AND THE LIBERAL SELF by JAMES GALVIN BEARING LEAVES AGAIN by DAVID IGNATOW AQUATINT FRAMED IN GOLD by AMY LOWELL TO GOD THE FATHER by KATHERINE MANSFIELD DOMESDAY BOOK: LILLI ALM by EDGAR LEE MASTERS |