FATHER DAMIEN 

This poem was written by Revd Amos S Cresswell, a retired Methodist Minister and former President of the Methodist Church in the UK and Ireland (1983-4).

Revd Creswell wrote to us saying:

"Since I was a teenage boy I have admired Father Damien.  He has been an illustration of what a good Christian can achieve. . . .   I was thrilled to read that the Pope at last had entered Damien on the official list of saints."

Here is an extract of his poem which he wrote two years ago.

Father Damien gave his life
To Molokai, O Molokai;
To serve an island full of strife
Called Molokai, YES! Molokai.
 
A rough and ready farmer's son
Saw Molokai, sick Molokai,
The Gospel work must needs be done
On Molokai, tough Molokai.
 
So there he preached, and built and cared
On Molokai, dear Molokai,
And did what none before had dared
For Molokai, good Molokai.
 
Till one day boiling water fell
Onto his feet on Molokai,
He felt no pain and so could tell
He leprous was on Molokai.
 
And so like Christ he joined his folk
And helped them bear the heavy yoke
The incarnate Christ did not pass by
The outcast sick on Molokai.
 
Amos S Cresswell Dec 2007