A Poem in Honor Father Damien

While visiting the island of Molokai and the leper colonies of Kalaupapa and Kalawao I visited the little museum of Father Damien behind the church of St. Francis of Assisi.

Hanging inside on one of the walls was the following poem by Earl W. Gomez in 1960 entitled, "Kamiano," the Hawaiian name for Damien:

Upon the shores of this forgotten place,
A little boat did land,
And from this craft he stepped with haste,
To meet a wretched band.

His eyes did meet an unusual sight,
Fear came upon his face,
So he brushed aside all signs of fright,
And vowed to serve this race.

At first they scorned the sight of him,
This stranger that had come,
For all their souls were touched with sin,
And unkowns they would shun.

But soon they learned to love this priest,
Who toiled by their side,
From sun to sun he did not cease,
And buried those who died.

He cleansed their souls and dressed their sores,
With love and gentle care,
And they in turn with open door,
Would have their food to share.

Of course in time this saintly man,
Like a wind blown tree did bend,
For this cursed disease did grasp his hand,
And he was one of them.

This did not stop or cause any shame,
For much still had to be done,
He served and blessed and eased much pain,
Far past each setting sun.

But then alas came that sorrowful day,
When lepers bowed and cried,
This message came and what did it say,
Dear Father Damien had died.