Our lady felt death had made a way
down toward Manhattan her heart lay;
But from the sky in haste the Eagle came,
and on her torch he lay there his face;
Talons and feather beneath her placed,
turned his head towards the human race.
But our lady needs more time to seek,
and looks toward a distant peak
while on his chest a mere mortal beats:
"With Gods hand virtues kept clean,
keep us from sin, mortal and mean,
which in the hour I was born have been
until this day, when life as such must end."
The mortal, beneath a great oak he sits
turning his eyes toward heaven, begins
to remember valor and various things:
Where on lands he went conquering,
and left comrades, hero's and his kin,
and his Lord who nourished him.
Nor can he help but weep at all this.
Then our lady lifted her free hand,
for with her the human must stand;
she gestured for him his life to commit
and with his oath to God he offers it.
At first he was the only proud and few
but more would join him, this he knew.
They now wear the eagle on a crest,
but do not beat at all upon a chest
and aweigh "the" anchor in her might
to bring our Lady's globe, a faithful light
which shall be to a proud few "the" sign
in their comradeship, faithfulness will bind. |
