LONG since, as one who scents at crucial stage Of some keen contest, dark and dim and dour, Strong master-move, impelled by swift presage Of things to come, with steel-clad heart and sure Surveys the stricken field, with vision wide And constant makes firm choice, dares to confide His fate to final throw and last essay, Even as such an one I dared obey My heart's high, inmost counsel: daring, drew To tiny Midland town, sans let, sans stay. ... To find therein lieutenant, loyal, steadfast, true. In manhood's prime, in fruitful flow'r of age, I flung my soul itself as offerture To toil and task, in eager escuage Gave joyful service, ardent to abjure The moment's pleasure, found impassioned pride In sacrifice to future freedom; tie'd, Enchained and shackled, felt to-morrow's sway Beacon and beckon, guide, illume alway My long, grey road, hearten, refresh, renew Me—helped, beyond all hope, through fight and fray, By loved lieutenant, loyal, steadfast, staunch and true. Six years I strove and dwelt in vassalage, Lonely in spirit, self-exiled, obscure, Walked wretched road in almost villanage, Youngest Headpostmaster in England, poor In purse at first, be-littled and belied Where I most cared, and cruelly calumnied By one who seemed born only to betray. ... Rose long ere dawn, let dastards bark and bay, Wrote, built large markets, sternly wore my rue, Scorned nid'ring souls who lived to sneer and slay. ... Helped by much-loved lieutenant, loyal, steadfast, true. We worked and strove, (you in proud pupillage To me who gladly taught as vavasour And leader, gave you happy heritage Of large experience, inspired, stood spur) Shared our official Chiefs' approval, vie'd In heart-whole public service, harmonied In hope and friendship, till that morn in May When, taking fortune at the flood, in gay And reckless mood, I bade my mad adieu To cage and carcelage, mid black dismay Of loved lieutenant, loyal, steadfast, staunch and true. If in this calm and Kentish hermitage I lose all care, at Life's eleventh hour, Find fecund peace, have happy harbourage, Freedom from Fear, tread—well-tried warrior— Much-long'd-for route, pace pleasant paths denied Me half-a-dozen decades, feel the tide Of hostile Fate turn friendly, mine own way Walk at long last, make feast and holy-day Of every sun's recurring round ... to you I owe such joys in no light measure, pay Tribute to lov'd lieutenant, loyal, steadfast, true. @3Envoi@1 Dear friend—who, standing, serving, at my side, Saw me break prison—while long leagues divide Us now, although implacable array Of years rolls on, relentless in relay, Learn that I still go grateful: I who knew Your aid in youth. No words can e'er portray Large debt to loved lieutenant, loyal, steadfast, true. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE GENERAL PUBLIC by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET EVENING IN A SUGAR ORCHARD by ROBERT FROST AGAINST THE REST OF THE YEAR by JAMES GALVIN ON BRODSKY'S COLLECTED by MICHAEL S. HARPER ISOLATION by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON IRELAND; WRITTEN FOR THE ART AUTOGRAPH DURING IRISH FAMINE by SIDNEY LANIER |