The writings of John Greenleaf Whittier, Volume 3.
John Greenleaf Whittier, Ed.

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[73]
     Where'er a human eye is weeping
O'er wrongs which Earth's sad children know;
     Where'er a single heart is keeping
Its prayerful watch with human woe:
     Thence let them come, and greet each other,
And know in each a friend and brother!

Yes, let them come! from each green vale
     Where England's old baronial halls
Still bear upon their storied walls
     The grim crusader's rusted mail,
Battered by Paynim spear and brand
     On Malta's rock or Syria's sand!
And mouldering pennon-staves once set
     Within the soil of Palestine,
By Jordan and Gennesaret;
     Or, borne with England's battle line,
O'er Acre's shattered turrets stooping,
     Or, midst the camp their banners drooping,
With dews from hallowed Hermon wet,
     A holier summons now is given
Than that gray hermit's voice of old,
     Which unto all the winds of heaven
The banners of the Cross unrolled!
     Not for the long-deserted shrine;
Not for the dull unconscious sod,
     Which tells not by one lingering sign
That there the hope of Israel trod;
     But for that truth, for which alone
In pilgrim eyes are sanctified
     The garden moss, the mountain stone,
Whereon His holy sandals pressed,—
     The fountain which His lip hath blessed,—