Excelsior...

"Excelsior" is a poem that, personally, is an inspiration and more. It re/intills within me a drive to go ever higher and do even better. It is a motivation in tough times and a challenge when my Walk and life may seem stale, dull, and shaken. It refreshes me and gives me clear insight so that I may embrace the calling that I believe that The LORD has for me. It reminds me that the Christian life thrives in the seasons of Difficulty, Uncertainty, and Trials of all kinds.Our proper responses in these times are everything. May this literary inspiration bring the same ministry and life to those who read, as it has - and still does - to me.  Blessings and here is "Excelsior."


Excelsior: Excelsior is a Latin and archaic English word meaning "ever higher".

The shades of night were falling fast,
As through an Alpine village passed
A youth, who bore, 'mid snow and ice,
A banner with the strange device,
Excelsior!

His brow was sad; his eye beneath,
Flashed like a falchion from its sheath,
And like a silver clarion rung
The accents of that unknown tongue,
Excelsior!

In happy homes he saw the light
Of household fires gleam warm and bright;
Above, the spectral glaciers shone,
And from his lips escaped a groan,
Excelsior!

"Try not the Pass!" the old man said:
"Dark lowers the tempest overhead,
The roaring torrent is deep and wide!
And loud that clarion voice replied,
Excelsior!

"Oh stay," the maiden said, "and rest
Thy weary head upon this breast!"
A tear stood in his bright blue eye,
But still he answered, with a sigh,
Excelsior!

"Beware the pine-tree's withered branch!
Beware the awful avalanche!"
This was the peasant's last Good-night,
A voice replied, far up the height,
Excelsior!

At break of day, as heavenward
The pious monks of Saint Bernard
Uttered the oft-repeated prayer,
A voice cried through the startled air,
Excelsior!

A traveller, by the faithful hound,
Half-buried in the snow was found,
Still grasping in his hand of ice
That banner with the strange device,
Excelsior!

There in the twilight cold and gray,
Lifeless, but beautiful, he lay,
And from the sky, serene and far,
A voice fell, like a falling star,
Excelsior!

...hearts of Gold are formed when only doubts surround, certainty is absent and the only thing left is Love on a Cross which beckons Man to "Follow" Lovingly.