Classic Poem

“Now, he belongs to the ages”;
Yes, Stanton, your dictum is true—
Lives with the seers and the sages
Who fashion the nation anew.

Dubbing him “homely old dreamer,”
They plotted and thrust him aside;
Dead is the scheme and the schemer,
But Abe and his dreams will abide.

Flesh ill-became the immortal,
And neither could flesh understand;
Now he returns from the portal
Of death with a mightier hand.

Flesh is as nothing to spirit,
No state and no land can confine;
Earth is enlarged to inherit
The soul of your Lincoln and mine.

“Now, he belongs to the ages”;
—Yes, Stanton, your dictum is true—
Lives with the seers and the sages
—Who fashion the nation anew.

Dubbing him “homely old dreamer,”
—They plotted and thrust him aside;
Dead is the scheme and the schemer,
—But Abe and his dreams will abide.

Flesh ill-became the immortal,
—And neither could flesh understand;
Now he returns from the portal
—Of death with a mightier hand.

Flesh is as nothing to spirit,
—No state and no land can confine;
Earth is enlarged to inherit
—The soul of your Lincoln and mine.