| Publication information |
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Source: Æonian Echoes and Other Poems Source type: book Document type: poem Document title: “‘The Great White Father!’” Author(s): Kidder, Martha A. Publisher: Sherman, French and Company Place of publication: Boston, Massachusetts Year of publication: 1911 Pagination: 186 |
| Citation |
| Kidder, Martha A. “‘The Great White Father!’” Æonian Echoes and Other Poems. Boston: Sherman, French, 1911: p. 186. |
| Transcription |
| full text |
| Keywords |
| William McKinley (mourning: poetry); William McKinley (lying in state: poetry). |
| Named persons |
| William McKinley. |
| Notes |
| In accordance with the original source, line 19 (below) appears to be missing punctuation between the third and fourth words. |
| Document |
“The Great White Father!”
.
O by one, with faces stern, severe,
Walked the Indians by the casket grim
Of the “Great White Father,” on his bier
Each a flower laid; no eyes were dimWith the tears they scorned, yet true their grief,
Drenched in rain they all had waited long
Silently their turn, that seemed too brief,
On his face to look, their “Father” strong!Could that face so wan, refined by pain,
Be the face of him they loved so well?
When they turned aside to wind, and rain,
Nature’s tears their sorrow seemed to tell.Humble tributes to the Indians’ grief
Lay the flowers on the “Father’s” breast,
Told their mourning for a life too brief,
Broken here, renewed among the blest.“Great White Father,” sweet thy memory!
Idol of a nation’s hope and love!
Torn from us no more our guide to be,
Thou hast passed from death to life above!