Victoria

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White Star of Womanhood, whose rays
 Thro’ years of peace and years of stress
Shed wide o’er all thy people’s ways
 The light of nobleness—
A memory in their hearts impearled
 To nerve thy sons where’er they roam—
Empress and Queen o’er half a World,
 Yet Angel of the Home.
Now, when the Shadow of Death has crost
 The belt of Empire, sea by sea,
The wide world weeps that freedom lost
 A friend like thee,
Who strove for righteousness, who wore
 A hero’s soul in woman’s breast:
God fold thee, now thy work is o’er,
 In robes of rest.

Death came not to thy fearless eyes
 A King of Terrors, but a friend,
Whispering: “Long years of sacrifice
 At last shall end.
Sleep, for the stress of Life is o’er,
 And on thy heart is laid release;
Lay down the Crown of Empire for
 The Crown of Peace.”

© George Essex Evans