10 April 2013

Thomas Bracken in Dunedin, New Zealand

The memorial to Thomas Bracken, presented in 1998 by the Rotary Club of Dunedin to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the province of Otago–Southland, stands at the entrance to the Dunedin Northern Cemetery.
 
 
'(1843 – 1898)
THOMAS BRACKEN
ELECTED MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR DUNEDIN CENTRAL (1881) AND THE AUTHOR OF
"GOD DEFEND NEW ZEALAND"
 
The full version of 'God Defend New Zealand' in English and in Māori.
 
'THIS PLAQUE PRESENTED TO ASSIST THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE GRAVE OF
THOMAS BRACKEN
AUTHOR OF THE N.Z. NATIONAL ANTHEM
"GOD DEFEND NEW ZEALAND"
GIFTED BY THE
ROTARY CLUB OF DUNEDIN
23RD APRIL 1998
75 YEARS IN DUNEDIN – 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF OTAGO'
 
 
So, unlike the graves of other writers buried here (the search for which I had to give up on), Bracken's is inevitably very easy to locate.
 
'SACRED
TO
THE MEMORY OF
THOMAS BRACKEN
POET, JOURNALIST, LEGISLATOR.
BORN IN IRELAND 1843.
DIED IN DUNEDIN 1898.
 
NOT UNDERSTOOD, HOW MANY BREASTS ARE ACHING
FOR LACK OF SYMPATHY, AH! DAY BY DAY
HOW MANY CHEERLESS, LONELY HEARTS ARE BREAKING
HOW MANY NOBLE SPIRITS PASS AWAY
                                                                          NOT UNDERSTOOD.
 
OH GOD! THAT MEN WOULD SEE A LITTLE CLEARER
OR JUDGE LESS HARSHLY WHERE THEY CANNOT SEE
OH GOD! THAT MEN WOULD DRAW A LITTLE NEARER
TO ONE ANOTHER, THEY'D BE NEARER THEE
                                                                           AND UNDERSTOOD.
 
                                                                           THOMAS BRACKEN.'

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