Lone figure on the stage,

With lonely vision wild,

Changing the annals of our age

All in thy simple mien so mild.

And myriads in thy train,

Whose hearts are all aglow,

Declare that never stress nor strain

Can steal their love's perpetual flow!

Where'er thy pathway bends,

Thick crowds like flowers strewn

Devoutly on thy sway attend,

Such as world emperors great were shewn!

Encircled everywhere

With wreaths of heartfelt cheers,

Fresher than those the Caesars wear

In all their triumphs fraught with fears!

Pent in thy bosom now,

And undelivered yet,

A New Covenant to endow

The human race with dreams unmet.

Nursed in thy bosom-base

And unabated too,

The anguish of thy suffering Race

That sharpened thee to give the clue!

Stately and all alone,

With lonely vision wild,

That opens breach in bordered zone

To preach—‘No Race shall be reviled!’

Thy suave and silent power,

Fenceless of armoury,

Hath taken citadel and tower

More than old days of archery.

Futile before such power,

Stands modern craft of War;

And man-made thunderclap must cower

Before the Art men's hearts adore!

No General, lost so few

In warfare great as thine,

Where arms and squadrons come to rue

Like helpless craft on ruthless brine!

Self-disciplined, austere,

A Creed unto thy soul,

Hath preached a Kingdom far secure

That eddies in the bosom whole!

The Nation's need art thou,

As dew to the rainless field;

Their brimful knowledge hacks them now,

They dread the curbless Force they wield!

Unfathomed Messenger!

Thy Mission half-confessed

Augurs New Day (whose Harbinger

Thou art) when all has been addressed!

Like phantom visitant,

From some aerial realm,

Released in clay though hesitant,

To take our glorious Ghana's helm!

Like lingering Meteor bright,

Flaring our Nation's shy,

Presaging omens good in sight,

And prosperous days unnumbered nigh!

Mortal, and not like one,

Thrust on our age as such

By some propitious Chance or Throne

To change affairs and values much!

Unpleasant thou must be,

Upsetting bowels and brow

Of rash regimes that disagree—

Old systems new ones must allow!

Few Victors ever lived

To see their conquests thrive;

Thee Destiny has deftly hived

To rear, and reap thy mighty drive!