 | Poems |  |
[My patriot fathers, where are ye]
Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live forever?—
Zechariah I, 5.
My patriot fathers, where are ye?
At rest within your earthly bed.
Fame bids your memory hallowed be,
Tho' years have fled.
At rest within your earthly bed.
Fame bids your memory hallowed be,
Tho' years have fled.
Veterans, whose hearts were valor's own,
In war's soul-testing furnace tried!
Thy bleeding country's calls, once known,
Were ne'er denied.
In war's soul-testing furnace tried!
Thy bleeding country's calls, once known,
Were ne'er denied.
Heroes, who heard the 'larum shout
That echoing sped throughout the land,
And first upon the turf ranged out,
With sword in hand.
That echoing sped throughout the land,
And first upon the turf ranged out,
With sword in hand.
Left their warm hearths without dismay,
Their weeping wives and children dear,
And calmly tore themselves away
Without a tear!
Their weeping wives and children dear,
And calmly tore themselves away
Without a tear!
Who stood on Bunker's awful height
And gave defiance to the foe,
When streamed the deadly volley bright—
The work of wo!
And gave defiance to the foe,
When streamed the deadly volley bright—
The work of wo!
Shall Monmouth's field forgotten lie?
And glorious Saratoga won?
Can we forget our pœans high
At Bennington?
And glorious Saratoga won?
88
At Bennington?
Neither can I forget the few
Who bared their patriot breasts to fight,
Whose motives never coward knew,
Nor could requite.
Who bared their patriot breasts to fight,
Whose motives never coward knew,
Nor could requite.
Father in Heaven, thy child desires—
With what of aught he may be blest—
The spirit of his patriot sires
On him may rest!
With what of aught he may be blest—
The spirit of his patriot sires
On him may rest!
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