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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