The Poetry Corner

To An Unionist.

By Francis William Lauderdale Adams

"If you only knew How gladly I've given it All these years - The light of mine eyes, The heat of my lips, Mine agonies, My yearning tears, My blood that drips, My brain that sears: If you only knew How gladly I've given it All these years - My hope and my youth, My manhood, my Art, My passion, my truth, My mind and my heart: "O my brother, you would not say, What have you to do with me? You would not, would not turn away Doubtingly and bitterly. "If you only knew How little I cared for These other things - The delicate speech, The high demand Of each from each, The imaginings Of Love's Holy Land: If you only knew How little I cared for These other things - The wide clear view Over peoples and times, The search in the new Entrancing climes, Science's wings And Art's sweet chimes: "O my brother, if you only knew What to me in these things is understood, As it seems to me it would seem to you, What was good for the Cause was surely good: "O my brother, you would not say: What have you to do with me? You would not, would not turn away Doubtingly and bitterly: "But you would take my hand with your hand, O my brother, if you only knew; You would smile at me, you would understand, You would call me brother as I call you!"