Part 1

Father Ryan's Poems

By Abram J. Ryan, (Father Ryan)

Introduction:

In preparing this electronic text of Father Ryan's poems, I was struck by the biased nature of the memoir included. While I will not gainsay anyone's right to their beliefs, I believe it is clearly evident from the poems themselves that Father Ryan believed strongly in the Southern Cause, and I do not believe his reaction was entirely emotional, as seems to be implied. The Memoir also makes mention of Father Ryan's poem "Reunited", as evidence of his support for the reunification of the States. To be fair to Ryan, I would note that such stanzas as

"The Northern heart and the Southern heart May beat in peace again;

"But still till time's last day, Whatever lips may plight, The blue is blue, but the gray is gray, Wrong never accords with Right."

in `Sentinel Songs', are much more common in his poems.

I believe it important to notice this, as it demonstrates that while Ryan loved Peace, he never forsook the Cause.

Regarding his possible dates of birth, I can do no better than the Memoir included, but I can at least match places with dates, to wit: Hagerstown, Md., on 5 February 1838; or Norfolk, Virginia, sometime in 1838 or 15 August 1839. His full name was Abram Joseph Ryan, and he was the son of Matthew and Mary (Coughlin) Ryan. He was ordained in 1856 and he taught at Niagara, N.Y. and Cape Girardeau, Missouri, before he became a chaplain in the Confederate Army in 1862. He edited several publications, including the "Pacificator", the Catholic weekly "The Star" (New Orleans), and "The Banner of the South" in Augusta, Georgia. He was the pastor of St. Mary's Church in Mobile, Alabama from 1870 to 1883. He died at a Franciscan Monastery at Louisville, Kentucky, on 22 April 1886. He is buried in Mobile.

His most famous poem is "The Conquered Banner", which had its measure inspired by a Gregorian hymn.

Alan R. Light, May, 1996, Birmingham, Alabama.

Poems: Patriotic, Religious, Miscellaneous.

By Abram J. Ryan, (Father Ryan).

Containing his posthumous poems.

"All Rests with those who Read. A work or thought Is what each makes it to himself, and may Be full of great dark meanings, like the sea, With shoals of life rushing; or like the air, Benighted with the wing of the wild dove, Sweeping miles broad o'er the far southwestern woods With mighty glimpses of the central light -- Or may be nothing -- bodiless, spiritless." -- Festus.

THESE SIMPLE RHYMES ARE LAID AS A GARLAND OF LOVE AT THE FEET OF HIS MOTHER BY HER CHILD THE AUTHOR

Preface

These verses (which some friends call by the higher title of Poems, to which appellation the author objects) were written at random -- off and on, here, there, anywhere -- just when the mood came, with little of study and less of art, and always in a hurry.

Hence they are incomplete in finish, as the author is; tho' he thinks they are true in tone. His feet know more of the humble steps that lead up to the Altar and its Mysteries than of the steeps that lead up to Parnassus and the Home of the Muses. And souls were always more to him than songs. But still, somehow -- and he could not tell why -- he sometimes tried to sing. Here are his simple songs. He never dreamed of taking even lowest place in the rank of authors. But friends persisted; and, finally, a young lawyer friend, who has entire charge of his business in the book, forced him to front the world and its critics. There are verses connected with the war published in this volume, not for harm-sake, nor for hate-sake, but simply because the author wrote them. He could write again in the same tone and key, under the same circumstances. No more need be said, except that these verses mirror the mind of THE AUTHOR.

Contents

Memoir of Father Ryan

Song of the Mystic Reverie ["Only a few more years!"] Lines -- 1875 A Memory Rhyme Nocturne ["I sit to-night by the firelight,"] The Old Year and the New Erin's Flag The Sword of Robert Lee Life A Laugh -- and A Moan In Memory of My Brother "Out of the Depths" A Thought March of the Deathless Dead Reunited A Memory At Last A Land without Ruins Memories The Prayer of the South Feast of the Assumption Sursum Corda A Child's Wish Presentiment Last of May "Gone" Feast of the Sacred Heart In Memory of Very Rev. J. B. Etienne Tears Lines (Two Loves) The Land We Love In Memoriam Reverie ["We laugh when our souls are the saddest,"] I Often Wonder Why 'Tis So A Blessing July 9th, 1872 Wake Me a Song In Memoriam (David J. Ryan, C.S.A.) What? (To Ethel) The Master's Voice A "Thought-Flower" A Death The Rosary of My Tears Death What Ails the World? A Thought In Rome After Sickness Old Trees After Seeing Pius IX Sentinel Songs Fragments from an Epic Poem Lake Como "Peace! Be Still" Good Friday My Beads At Night Nocturne ["Betimes, I seem to see in dreams"] Sunless Days A Reverie ["Did I dream of a song? or sing in a dream?"] St. Mary's De Profundis When? (Death) The Conquered Banner A Christmas Chant "Far Away" Listen Wrecked Dreaming A Thought "Yesterdays" "To-Days" "To-Morrows" Inevitable Sorrow and the Flowers Hope Farewells Song of the River Dreamland Lines ["Sometimes, from the far-away,"] A Song Parting St. Stephen A Flower's Song The Star's Song Death of the Flower Singing-Bird Now M * * * God in the Night Poets A Legend Thoughts Lines ["The world is sweet, and fair, and bright,"] C.S.A. The Seen and The Unseen Passing Away The Pilgrim (A Christmas Legend for Children) A Reverie ["Those hearts of ours -- how strange! how strange!"] ---- Their Story Runneth Thus Night After the Picnic Lines ["The death of men is not the death"] Death of the Prince Imperial In Memoriam (Father Keeler) Mobile Mystic Societies Rest Follow Me The Poet's Child Mother's Way Feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple St. Bridget New Year Zeila (A Story from a Star) Better than Gold Sea Dreamings Sea Rest Sea Reverie The Immaculate Conception Fifty Years at the Altar Song of the Deathless Voice To Mr. and Mrs. A. M. T. To Virginia (on Her Birthday) Epilogue

Posthumous Poems

In Remembrance A Reverie [`"O Songs!" I said:'] Only a Dream The Poet The Child of the Poet The Poet Priest Wilt Pray for Me?

Memoir of Father Ryan

By John Moran

It is regretted that the materials at hand at this writing are not sufficient to warrant as extended a notice as the publishers of the present enlarged volume of Father Ryan's poems would wish, and as the many friends and admirers of the dead priest and poet desire. So distinguished a character and so brilliant a man cannot be passed over lightly, or dealt with sparingly, if the demand of his friends and the public generally would be satisfied even in a moderate degree; for Father Ryan's fame is the inheritance of a great and enlightened nation, and his writings have passed into history to emblazon its pages and enrich the literature of the present and succeeding ages, since it is confidently believed that, with the lapse of time, his fame and his merits will grow brighter and more enduring. With this appreciation of his merits, and a realizing sense of what is due to his memory, and with an equal consciousness of his own want of ability to do justice to the subject, the writer bespeaks the indulgent criticism of those who may read the following remarks -- admittedly far short of what are due to the illustrious dead.

The exact date and place of Father Ryan's birth are not yet definitely settled. Some assert that he was born at Norfolk, Va.; others claim Hagerstown, Md., as the place of his birth; whilst there is some ground to believe that in Limerick, Ireland, he first saw the light. The same uncertainty exists as to time. Some claim to know that he was born in 1834, whilst others fix with equal certainty, the year 1836 as the time. In the midst of these conflicting statements, the writer prefers to leave the questions at issue for future determination, when it is hoped that final and conclusive proof will be obtained to place them outside the realms of dispute. Meanwhile, he will present what may be regarded as of primary importance in forming a correct estimate of the character of the deceased, and the value of his life-work, which, after all, are the chief ends sought to be accomplished.