 | The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") |  |
555
TOM SAXON.
Tom Saxon, of Fluvanna,
Here seated at the board,
Where humor mates with sentiment
And wit with wine is poured,—
Here, while this honest bowl I drain,
The past comes over me again,
And fondness, in a gentle rain,
Bedews my soul, Tom Saxon.
Here seated at the board,
Where humor mates with sentiment
And wit with wine is poured,—
Here, while this honest bowl I drain,
The past comes over me again,
And fondness, in a gentle rain,
Bedews my soul, Tom Saxon.
Tom Saxon, of Fluvanna,
To see your eyes on mine
Bent with such noble confidence,
More joys me than the wine—
Yet this is of a vintage which
Has lain within the dusky niche
Wherein it slumbered and grew rich
For many years, Tom Saxon.
To see your eyes on mine
Bent with such noble confidence,
More joys me than the wine—
Yet this is of a vintage which
Has lain within the dusky niche
Wherein it slumbered and grew rich
For many years, Tom Saxon.
Tom Saxon, of Fluvanna,
On yon piano's keys,
My daughter's fingers often rain
The sweetest melodies,
But never fair musician brought
From those by art and genius taught,
Such tones, with dainty rhythm fraught,
As leave your lips, Tom Saxon.
On yon piano's keys,
My daughter's fingers often rain
The sweetest melodies,
But never fair musician brought
From those by art and genius taught,
Such tones, with dainty rhythm fraught,
As leave your lips, Tom Saxon.
Tom Saxon, of Fluvanna,
I press your manly hand,
And many pleasant thoughts arise
As face to face we stand.
For we have shared both smiles and tears,
Have halved each other's hopes and fears,
And side by side, for thirty years,
Have fought the world, Tom Saxon.
I press your manly hand,
And many pleasant thoughts arise
As face to face we stand.
556
Have halved each other's hopes and fears,
And side by side, for thirty years,
Have fought the world, Tom Saxon.
Tom Saxon, of Fluvanna,
Just fifteen years ago,
The schooner passed through Norfolk bay
And flecked its way with snow.
I fell while gazing on the wave,
And would have found an ocean grave,
Had not your courage come to save
My life that day, Tom Saxon.
Just fifteen years ago,
The schooner passed through Norfolk bay
And flecked its way with snow.
I fell while gazing on the wave,
And would have found an ocean grave,
Had not your courage come to save
My life that day, Tom Saxon.
Tom Saxon, of Fluvanna,
When evil tongues assailed,
And evil hearts bred evil words,
Your friendship never failed.
You bade me scorn to flee or cower,
You raised me in that bitter hour,
You made me well assert the power,
Which else had sunk, Tom Saxon.
When evil tongues assailed,
And evil hearts bred evil words,
Your friendship never failed.
You bade me scorn to flee or cower,
You raised me in that bitter hour,
You made me well assert the power,
Which else had sunk, Tom Saxon.
Tom Saxon, of Fluvanna,
When want around me fell,
Your purse was mine, your counsel mine,
Your sympathy as well.
Yours was the gold redeemed my land,
Yours was the voice that bade me stand,
Yours was the pressure of the hand
That soothed my pride, Tom Saxon.
When want around me fell,
Your purse was mine, your counsel mine,
Your sympathy as well.
Yours was the gold redeemed my land,
Yours was the voice that bade me stand,
Yours was the pressure of the hand
That soothed my pride, Tom Saxon.
Tom Saxon, of Fluvanna,
Your foes would crush you now,
The tongue of slander wound the soul,
That force had failed to bow;
The reptile want is at your door,
It soils your hearth and slimes your floor—
May Fate do thus to me, and more,
If I prove false, Tom Saxon.
Your foes would crush you now,
The tongue of slander wound the soul,
That force had failed to bow;
557
It soils your hearth and slimes your floor—
May Fate do thus to me, and more,
If I prove false, Tom Saxon.
Tom Saxon, of Fluvanna,
God bless you from his throne,
And give you kindly ripening
As you have nobly grown.
Your hand in mine—one goblet more!
The sky may frown, the tempest roar.
Woe flies from out the open door
Of our one heart, Tom Saxon.
God bless you from his throne,
And give you kindly ripening
As you have nobly grown.
Your hand in mine—one goblet more!
The sky may frown, the tempest roar.
Woe flies from out the open door
Of our one heart, Tom Saxon.
Tom Saxon, of Fluvanna,
Think not abroad to roam
To seek for gold in other climes,
But bide with us at home.
Beneath this roof, beside this hearth,
With those who know and prize your worth,
Rest, till we both shall pass from earth,
My dear old friend, Tom Saxon.
Think not abroad to roam
To seek for gold in other climes,
But bide with us at home.
Beneath this roof, beside this hearth,
With those who know and prize your worth,
Rest, till we both shall pass from earth,
My dear old friend, Tom Saxon.
| The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") | |