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Marguerite; or, The Isle of Demons and Other Poems

Chapter 34: IN MEMORY OF JOSEPH GUIBORD.
By George Martin
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Poetry

About This Book

A varied collection of lyric and narrative verse centered on a long romantic legend about a woman’s ordeal on a haunted island and its personal and moral aftermath, accompanied by shorter sonnets, ballads, and occasional pieces. Many poems draw on Canadian history and local scenes, offering meditative nature writing, urban sketches of Montreal and Ottawa life, winter and carnival scenes, elegies and civic tributes, and moral or humorous vignettes about everyday people. Themes of love, exile, faith, memory, and social concern recur across diverse forms and voices, blending personal reflection with regional colour and historic atmosphere.

IN MEMORY OF JOSEPH GUIBORD.

1875.

The storm of six long years is past, And peacefully he rests at last.— Thrice hearsed, thrice cursed, let honest fame Blow treble honour to his name. If endless years of praise ensue, ’Tis but the hero’s earthly due. The humble printer’s mighty art, Though banned, will vindicate her son, And tell to every truthful heart While woods grow green and waters run— That he who braves a despot’s frown Will wear at length the victor’s crown; Even when slain, and torn asunder, And scattered piecemeal, trodden under The brutal feet of frenzied foes, His deeds will rise, as Christ’s arose, And, borne upon the chainless air, Will plead for freedom everywhere.
Let curses from their rookery fly, And flap their foul wings o’er his bones, The autumn wind that round him moans Will mock them, while in vain they try To penetrate those friendly stones.
Come what might come, from man or elf, He dared not quarrel with himself, Nor stab the Truth that in his breast Had found a warm and welcome nest. No terrors of the burning lake, Fancied or real, beyond the grave, Nor purgatorial flames could shake His manly soul, so firm and brave, For he was neither fool nor slave. True to himself, he lived and died, Not wilful, nor elate with pride, But steadfast in his honest thought, Self-justified, self-ruled, self-taught.
Our Brother! wheresoever now Thy spirit lifts its free-born brow, Behold thy kindred!—not alone In Canada will thousands own Relationship; throughout all lands,— Wherever freedom shines or dawns, An army with uplifted hands, Constrained by glowing links that bind Nobility of mind to mind, Will crown thee with their benisons.
Thus Guibord! shall the commonwealth Of truth’s and reason’s fearless sons,— Scorners of men who think by stealth, Now hold thee in fraternal trust, And consecrate thine injured dust, While woods grow green and water runs.