Karl G. Maeser: A Poem
Improvement Era, vol. 4, no. 7, May 1901, pp. 515 to 516
Pike, Annie
KARL G. MAESER.
What was he? A voice:—deep with the call to battle for the right; Tender with comfort through the doubtful night; A call to arms upon the field of self, To raise the soul and kill the greed of pelf; A voice that struck the Ananias dead, And lifted up the nobler self instead.
What was he? A hand that never knew an oppressor's heart, A hand that never knew a meaner part Than lifting up where others had crushed down; The weak, the tempted, who win fortune's frown; A hand that comforted yet smote for good, Sparing himself the least where'er he stood.
516 IMPR0VEMEN1 ERA.
What was he? A heart, a soul, the expanseless seas as broad, A mighty soul that one time looked on God And caught the illumination of his smile, And brought the light to earth a little while; A heart that left the meaner deeds unthought, A soul that breathed of peace from battles fought: The children's friend, the friend that steadied youth; A bearer of the cross for right and truth!
And now? His voice is silent through the unsleeping hour, His hand doth rest in peace that wielded power; Gone on his journey through the gates of day, Our friend, our teacher, hath but passed this way.
But in our hearts his voice doth echo still, Like sound of angels on Judea's hill; So shall its echo to the years belong; So shall remembrance of his hand make strong; So shall his work go on from age to age, And leave its stamp divine on history's page. Faithful he was, aye, even unto death! Such life can never die with lessening breath. He hath but crossed the seas that soundless break, Leaving a light of glory in his wake. February 17, 1901. Annie Pike.