Classic Poem

TO THE Ship WHICH BROUGHT A C OPY OF M ICHAEL A NGELO'S
S TATUE OF C HRIST FROM I TALY TO A MERICA

Bark after bark has sunk in gales like these,
Facing the jealous West, as thou dost now.
Still thou must breast each wave, nor shun the seas,
Which beetle downward on thy westward prow.
The great " Christ-bearer " quailed not: he, as thou,
Left Italy to seek our Western shore;
And, as another dove another olive bore,
Seeing across the waste another promise-bow.

Beat westward still! beat downward every wave!
The Christ who gave our New World to the Old,
E'en then his secret to his Michael told,
And to his eye the sacred vision gave.
Beat the waves down! let them his form behold
Who are his " other sheep, " noTof his early fold.