St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

Page 143 text:

Seem likely to devour me 5 but itwas Not destined to be thus. The Flames are quenched, And lo I the glow of youth returns to me, My roots take firmer hold on Mother Earth, A And vigor grasps my whole existence. Then 'Twas seen, the threatening fire had but consumed The hindrance to my progress. So with thee, Oh, man ! permittest thou the dross to be Commingled with the gold, thy soul grows ill And soon would die but for the cleansing fire. Again I say, be helpful. As I lend My rugged strength to succor- and support The clinging vine, so proffer thy strong arm And elevate thy weaker brother. But, Alas, my doom is pending! Some swift gale This empty trunk around, may hurl it to Destruction. Thou, too, man, must surely die Q But ere thou enterest thy final sleep, Take heed, be ready, and to thee shalt be A heaven and a blest eternity. Farewell, thou noble Poplar Tree l Each rising sun but hastens our advent I Upon the stage of life, when we must leave Thee, Poplar. Yea, how soon 5 but sun ne'er shed A brighter glow in human heart than doth Thine image, Poplar: and although decades Have rolled away, and Fortune kind allot To us position with the foremost, still Unquenched will be the spark of love which draws May through these branches sweep, and twisting swift Us to thee, Poplar. 1

Page 142 text:

HDDZIYODDC to IDC IDODIHF. ? JHOU gia11t tree, whose hollow trunk, to foul f' Decay a prey, now stands an empty shell, A mere suggestion of thy former might,- Yet even now, when time's fierce tempests have In vain their force expended round thy head, Still standest thou, a mighty sentinel, Our pride, our boast, our college friend. Oh, could some mighty hand, Endowed with power divine, give utterance Unto thy being, then while zephyrs mild Among thy branches played, could'st thou regale The listening ear with many a tale of long- Forgotten lore 3 and scenes which live and move In history alone could'st thou relate With that fresh spark of life which animates Recitals of experience. Yea, i11 words Of living truth might'st thou describe how once The dusky native of our fatherland A Did underneath thy spreading branches meet, And with his pale-faced brother form A truce of lasting friendship g then could'st thou Of wars and conflicts tell, in contrast great To this serener picture g then, perchance, In accents mild, and in a manner sweet I And soothing to the care-beladen soul, Thy memory wou1d'st portray a lowly scene, Of men, who, drawn by thy protecting shade, And seeing in thy verdant foliage And stalwart trunk the great Creator's hand, Have dressed in deep humiliation's garb, And meekly bowed before Almighty God, And worshiped g then, indeed, could'st thou depict The progress of the ages, and enlarge The growing page of history. But, alas! 'Tis not thy mission thus to speak, and teach Men useful knowledge, thy domain is but To live, and in thy living make one mute, Though lingering appeal, that men may look Upon thy peaceful form, and see therein The lessons God has taught them. Mutely thus Thou speakest : Sons of men, behold, I stand, As I have done for ages. Years ago The bloom of life had faded from these boughs, And rottenness had seized this sturdy trunk Q But then, in this mine hour of darkest gloom, Some urchins, mischievously bent, ignite This frame with powder, and the hungry flames

Page 144 text:

the Elncient Sree. WRITTEN BY FRANCIS SCOTT KEY. GGKH? HEE, ancient tree, auturnnal storms assail, I 9 lg' Thy shattered branches spread the SOH11d afai 3 U Thy tall head bows before the rising gale, Thy pale leaf Hits along the troubled air. No more thou boastest of thy vernal bloom, Thy withered foliage glads the eye no more 3 Yet, still, thy presence on thy lonely gloom A secret pleasure to my soul restores. For round thy trunk my careless childhood straywl When fancy led me cheerful o'er the green And many a frolic feat beneath thy shade Far distant days and other suns have seen. Fond recollection kindles at the View And acts each long departed scene anew. 136