Channeling History: A Poem by George Washington
Created | Updated Sep 20, 2020
Channeling History: A Poem by George Washington
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Did you know George Washington wrote poetry? The statement would probably have surprised him, too. This 'poem' shows up in a book called Hereafter, printed in Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1879. The poem was, er, ghost-written. Literally. By Mrs Cornelia De Witt. Mrs De Witt was a trance medium who apparently did automatic writing. The book Hereafter consists of communications from the Other Side about the usual sorts of things: how happy they are in the land of the blessed, how people on earth need to clean up their act, etc. But Mrs De Witt sometimes gets flashes of inspiration and channels famous people like Tecumseh and George Washington. We thought you might enjoy the poem.
O, now dear friends I gladly come, A word from your Geo. Washington, To speak of state and nation all, That though it be a token small. With earnest hearts and purpose too! He toiled to make his country true, In peace and love to nations all, And not obey that trumpet call, Which leads to countless brothers fall. And brings destruction on you all, Has come at last on black and white, You cannot banish it outright. For weal and woe, are seen to-day, As Congress makes her grand display; While government and people stand, Afraid to reach their trembling hands. To quench the fires they now have kindled, As the Nation's treasury they have swindled, In ways so smooth you n'er can judge, Until it gets into a smudge. Then nations all in fear shall rise, As they shall wave before their eyes, In declaration dark and drear, The voice of war again shall hear. As cannon's fire, and countless shells, Brave Lincoln now his country tells – Disturbance now in blood and gore, Shall sweep countless numbers more! Then Congress all in houses fair, They too a portion of it share; And not the families all disbanded, As laws of peace have been unstranded. The hand that moves, that regulates, That waits a fruitful action. For national laws to be enforced, Says Honorable General Jackson. God bless the national flag so free; And may you in all honor be, With North, and South, and East, and West, And government war can be at rest. GEORGE WASHINGTON, Ex-President U. S1. |
1The 'Ex-President' is a particularly nice touch, don't you think?
