Thursday, January 12, 2006

EDITH CAVELL



Edith Cavell (1865-1915) was a matron nurse of the Belgium Red Cross in Brussels. Her heroic deeds of aiding 200 or more allied soldiers to escape from behind enemy lines in Germany into freedom in Holland, via the underground railroad, are never to be forgotten with the tribute to her patriotism in the naming of this mountain. Her capture led to her execution by firing squad.This majestic mountain has a glacial lake and the most famous Angel Glacier which its whiteness spreading out angel wings protecting just as Edith, the soldier's angel, once did.
The following poem was penned by Lawrence Binyon about Edith Cavell:


She was binding the wounds of her enemies when they came --
The lint in her hand unrolled.
They battered the door with their rifle-butts, crashed it in:
She faced them gentle and bold.

They hailed her before the judges where they sat
In their places, helmet on head.
With question and menace the judges assailed her,
"Yes, I have broken your law," she said.

"I have tended the hurt and hidden the hunted, have done
As a sister does to a brother,
Because of a law that is greater than you have made,
Because I could do no other."
Deal as you will with me. This is my choice to the end,
To live in the life I vowed."
"She is self-confessed," they cried; "she is self-condemned.

She shall die, that the rest may be cowed."
In the terrible hour of the dawn, when the veins are cold,
They led her forth to the wall.
"I have loved my land," she said, "but it is not enough:
Love requires of me all.
"I will empty my heart of bitterness, hating none."
And sweetness filled her brave
With a vision of understanding beyond the hour
That knelled to the waiting grave.

They bound her eyes, but she stood as if she shone.
The rifles it was that shook
When the hoarse command rang out. They could not endure
That last, that defenseless look.

And the officer strode and pistolled her surely, ashamed
That men, seasoned in blood,
Should quail at a woman, only a woman, --
As a flower stamped in the mud.

And now that the deed was securely done, in the night
When none had known her fate,
They answered those that had striven for her, day by day:
"It is over, you come too late."

And with many words and sorrowful-phrased excuse
Argued their German right
To kill, most legally; hard though the duty be,
The law must assert its might.

Only a woman! yet she had pity on them,
The victim offered slain
To the gods of fear that they worship. Leave them there,
Red hands, to clutch their gain.

She bewailed not herself, and we will bewail her not,
But with tears of pride rejoice
That an English soul was found so crystal-clear
To be the triumphant voice

Of the human heart that dares adventure all
But live to itself untrue,
And beyond all laws sees love as the light in the night,
As the star it must answer to.

The hurts she healed, the thousands comforted -- these
Make a fragrance of her fame.
But because she stept to her star right on through death
It is Victory speaks her name.

6 comments:

  1. What a beautiful and tragic story. I never knew the story of that lady, or that there's a mountain named for her in Canada! Needless to say there were more wonderful people like her helping who they could during that war and I can only hope most of them made it out without such a devestating ending. You learn something new every day, I guess - thanks for sharing the story and poem with everyone!

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  2. Thanks for sharing the story, Dale. I learn so much about such different subjects by visiting blogs.

    Cheers,
    AM

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  3. She is someone we can all aspire to be like.

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  4. Amazing. That is a beautiful poem, just fantastic, about such a beautiful soul. I love her bravery and that she did not back down.

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  5. Hi Dale
    First of all I hope you get well asap!
    And yes, what a beautiful poem and story, really a lump in my throat.
    Thank you for sharing that with us.
    It tells me a few things more than average, I think, what with us going to Brussels from Holland (elements in the nurse's story) practically every week.

    And also... As promised I'd tell: My computer is back! (and it's been worth waiting for).
    Love
    Koos

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  6. That was my favorite bibliography when I was in primary school. She was a great heroine and a wonderful example for young girls. Thanks for reminding me! - I'm glad to know she is remembered.

    You certainly live in a beautiful place. We're on the other end of the spectrum, at the beach.

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