Resurrected Master
Liberian Literary Magazine Promoting Liberian Literature, Arts and Culture
Resurrected Master
Edwin J Barclay
This series focuses on the writings of one of the literary giants of Liberia. The Lone Star Forever, may be the most famous song he is known by, but what many know not is that the piece was originally a poem which he later converted. Unfortunately, more people remember the man as the politician or the master lawyer. Arguably, the Barclays [ he and his uncle, both presidents of Liberia ] were the sharpest legal minds of their times, rivalled only by an equally worthy opponent JJ Dossen. What we try to do in this series is spotlight the literary giant, E. J. Barclay was. We attempt to show the little known side of the man- free from all the political dramas.
Dawn
Far in the East the Sun, whose lambent flames Peep through the purple gauze which hides away Things unforeseen from those already past, Uprears his brow: The while, fair imps of light Roll up the filmy sheet ' twixt Night and Day, And drowsy Nature dons her dew-decked crown, Awakening all to life and work and Love!
The Past
The Past! the Past! O Love, recall
Its joys, its hopes, its cheerful years; Its tranquil hours, its shortlived fears,
O Love, recall, recall them all!
The Past! the Past! ah, hadst thou known The unsoothed pain, the smarting wound Which this sad heart in sorrow bound
Has felt, would ' st thou its joys have flown?
Ah, tell me not the Past is past:
Such accents cannot quench desire; For Hope still lives and riseth higher
Where Memory ' s leaves fall thick and fast.
Ah, tell me not all hope is dead:
That passing years have crowned our brows With fell despair. Recall the vows
Of love we made; let hope be fed.
Can love be dead? May passing years,
Pulsed with the throbbings of our hearts, Drown all the hopes which faith imparts?
Must holy love be quenched in tears?
Ask thine own heart for mine beats fast With faith, tho ' still unrealized: The joyous hopes once dearly prized
AIive but to crown our live at last!
Let faith, let death, let life and time,—
The minions of eternity,—
The God of Love and destiny, Teach thee, my heart, this faith sublime.
Presidents |
Barclay |
and |
Roosevelt |
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