A little book of tribune verse A number of hitherto uncollected poems, grave and gay |
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THE FIFTH OF JULY. |
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 | A little book of tribune verse |  |
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THE FIFTH OF JULY.
Sing not of patriots who are dead,
The yankee sires long passed away,
Bind up his throbbing, aching head
And sing the patriots of today!
The yankee sires long passed away,
Bind up his throbbing, aching head
And sing the patriots of today!
Nor Washington, nor Lee nor Wayne,
E'er suffered pain as suffered they,
Pain in the head, in stomach pain,
These gallant patriots of today!
E'er suffered pain as suffered they,
Pain in the head, in stomach pain,
These gallant patriots of today!
Not he who fills a soldiers' grave,
Who drove the British hordes away,
Who life and fortune freely gave,
Not he is patriot, we say.
Who drove the British hordes away,
Who life and fortune freely gave,
Not he is patriot, we say.
But he who celebrates the Fourth,
As all good men at present do,
And then endures the after clap,
He is the patriot brave and true!
As all good men at present do,
And then endures the after clap,
He is the patriot brave and true!
The aching head, the stomach sour,
The dark brown taste, the trembling knees,
Oh, what are Revolution gore
And Revolution pangs to these!
The dark brown taste, the trembling knees,
Oh, what are Revolution gore
And Revolution pangs to these!
July 5th, 1882.
| A little book of tribune verse | |