| Publication information |
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Source: Boston Evening Transcript Source type: newspaper Document type: poem Document title: “The Last Message” Author(s): Warner, Hannah City of publication: Boston, Massachusetts Date of publication: 20 September 1901 Volume number: none Issue number: none Pagination: 10 |
| Citation |
| Warner, Hannah. “The Last Message.” Boston Evening Transcript 20 Sept. 1901: p. 10. |
| Transcription |
| full text |
| Keywords |
| William McKinley (death: poetry). |
| Named persons |
| none. |
| Document |
The Last Message
“Good-by; good-by to all! It is God’s way.”
Midst deepening gloom still gleams the constant ray.
O simple words, a Chieftain’s dying breath,
Henceforth immortal, sanctifying death;
To show a world appalled how great men die,
To hush a nation’s quick, rebellious “Why?”
With calm “good-by.”O strong-souled Chieftain, thus to lead the way—
Undaunted and unfaltering to obey,
And beckon our frail hearts with thee to rise
Above the shadow of this sacrifice;
High noontide glory wrapped in midnight pall,
Yet unaffrighted hear the cadence fall:
“Good-by; good-by to all!”O man of faith and humble trust sublime—
Still gleaming down the long, dim path of Time
This radiance, from thy more than kingly throne,
Shall light a world to make thy faith its own.
Illumine all earth’s gloom, O Constant Ray,
While nations hear our martyred Chieftain pray:
“Good-by; good-by to all! It is God’s way.”