The writings of John Greenleaf Whittier, Volume 4.
John Greenleaf Whittier, Ed.

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[49] The oak has fallen!
     While, meet for no good work, the vine
May yet its worthless branches twine,
     Who knoweth not that with thee fell
A great man in our Israel?
     Fallen, while thy loins were girded still,
Thy feet with Zion's dews still wet,
     And in thy hand retaining yet
The pilgrim's staff and scallop-shell!
     Unharmed and safe, where, wild and free,
Across the Neva's cold morass
     The breezes from the Frozen Sea
With winter's arrowy keenness pass;
     Or where the unwarning tropic gale
Smote to the waves thy tattered sail,
     Or where the noon-hour's fervid heat
Against Tahiti's mountains beat;
     The same mysterious Hand which gave
Deliverance upon land and wave,
     Tempered for thee the blasts which blew
Ladaga's frozen surface o'er,
     And blessed for thee the baleful dew
Of evening upon Eimeo's shore,
     Beneath this sunny heaven of ours,
Midst our soft airs and opening flowers
     Hath given thee a grave!

His will be done,
     Who seeth not as man, whose way
Is not as ours! Tis well with thee!
     Nor anxious doubt nor dark dismay
Disquieted thy closing day,
     But, evermore, thy soul could say,