Henry O'Meara Ballads of America

JOHN HARVARD'S MEMORIAL

BY Time entombed, untraced by living eye -
Oblivion-merged his vital embers lie,
Whose primal spark, the glow of Harvard's name,
Enkindled first New England Culture's flame;
Still shines his soul's expression crystallized,
Through loving care of Art idealized
His lumined form in speaking bronze revealed,
His spirit clear in lineaments unsealed.

Not all the radiance shed o'er Pharos Isle
That beaconed far the gateway of the Nile
Outshone the wide-sent rays of him revered,
In form ideal on this "delta" reared.
At morn's tint Memnon from his verberant shrine
Evoked sweet tones, to faith of old divine;
This Life, of new-dawned science prescient long,
Tuned forth our learning, poesy, and song.

Full in its beams Memorials rose to tell
Of heroes that in Manhood's morning fell,
Chivalric sons who proffered sword and pen -
Who burned to strive or die to ransom men,
With gift that scholarship aglow can yield,
With martial flash to light a "Soldier's Field,"
To fuse a realm - recast a people free -
Their fire was caught, fair Harvard, all from thee!

ILLUMINED LIBERTY	CONTENTS	BENJAMIN P. SHILLABER

Henry O'Meara Ballads of America

JOHN HARVARD'S MEMORIAL

Edited and formatted by Sheldon Brown