| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | November 9 | | Boston | | By John Boyle O’Reilly (1844–1890) |
| | | | The Boston Fire, November 9, 1872. |
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O BROAD-BREASTED Queen among Nations! | |
| O Mother, so strong in thy youth! | |
| Has the Lord looked upon thee in ire, | |
| And willed thou be chastened by fire, | |
| Without any ruth? | 5 |
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| Has the Merciful tired of His mercy, | |
| And turned from thy sinning in wrath, | |
| That the world with raised hand sees and pities | |
| Thy desolate daughters, thy cities, | |
| Despoiled on their path? | 10 |
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| One year since thy youngest was stricken: | |
| Thy eldest lies stricken to-day. | |
| Ah! God, was thy wrath without pity, | |
| To tear the strong heart from our city, | |
| And cast it away? | 15 |
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| O Father! forgive us our doubting; | |
| The stain from our weak souls efface; | |
| Thou rebukest, we know, but to chasten; | |
| Thy hand has but fallen to hasten | |
| Return to thy grace. | 20 |
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| Let us rise purified from our ashes | |
| As sinners have risen who grieved; | |
| Let us show that twice-sent desolation | |
| On every true heart in the nation | |
| Has conquest achieved. | 25 | | |
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