Classic Poem

Valiant for Truth has gone—Alas! that he has left us,
Valiant for Truth, the leader that we love,
Where shall we find his like? Grim death, thou has bereft us
Of that great force that lifted us above.

Valiant for Truth, thy voice rang strong, and clear, and loudly,
We had not borne to have its accents fail;
Nor would we choose, oh! Knight, that thou shouldst go less proudly
Ardent and young, upon the last, long trail.

What though we stumble blindly over ways that darken,
We are not worthy if we do not fare
Forth to the West, where still thy voice calls us to hearken—
Up to the heights, and we shall meet thee there.
. . . . . . . . .

“Valiant for Truth has come,” thus all the trumpets sounded,
“Valiant for Truth who faltered not, nor fell;
Fearless he rode the trail, the last long trail unbounded,
Rode to the final goal, where all is well!”