This privilege was mine,—I knew the man, His life, so calm, 'twas like placid pool Kissed by the willows in the wooded glen, Its deeps reflecting Heaven's smiling blue And in its close confines embracing all The Universe above. I loved the man; His gentle life appealed to men like me. The elements that make for noble souls So blended were into his earthly form That common folk, whose eyes are dim at best, Could see the Moulder's hand that fashioned him And purged his clay of dross. I heard the man; The Sabbath morns I've sat beneath his spell When unembellished truths of gospel lore Breathed with the still warm mist of Spirit faith, Soothed and inspired the restless soul I own, Sweet memories all shall be, and evermore Remembrances of joy. I saw the man; I watched him when the fateful shadows fell, No coward words betrayed an anxious thought, If fears there were, his faith supremely stilled And cast them out. His was the faith that sang. His true and constant prayer, "Thy will be done;" He never doubted God. I marked the man; As one whom Heaven had sent on earth to lead, To teach and guide, and point the upward way, I marked him well, and now, in retrospect I see what I saw not while he was near, The greatness of humility, 'twas that Which proved and gave him place. I've missed the man; Since he has gone, the curtains low are drawn, Nor I alone, his world still mourns him dead; But God had need, His servant's work was done. Our word must be "Amen"; yet suns will shine Never again so bright for those whose hands Have felt the warmth of his. God loved this man. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PORTRAIT OF ONE DEAD by CONRAD AIKEN GETTING A WORD IN by JAMES GALVIN LINES ON CARMEN SYLVA by EMMA LAZARUS |