Complete Poetical Works

THE MISSION BELLS OF MONTEREY

     O bells that rang, O bells that sang
     Above the martyrs' wilderness,
     Till from that reddened coast-line sprang
     The Gospel seed to cheer and bless,
     What are your garnered sheaves to-day?
     O Mission bells!  Eleison bells!
     O Mission bells of Monterey!

     O bells that crash, O bells that clash
     Above the chimney-crowded plain,
     On wall and tower your voices dash,
     But never with the old refrain;
     In mart and temple gone astray!
     Ye dangle bells!  Ye jangle bells!
     Ye wrangle bells of Monterey!

     O bells that die, so far, so nigh,
     Come back once more across the sea;
     Not with the zealot's furious cry,
     Not with the creed's austerity;
     Come with His love alone to stay,
     O Mission bells!  Eleison bells!
     O Mission bells of Monterey!

     *  This poem was set to music by Monsieur Charles Gounod.