Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE 'VARUNA', by GEORGE HENRY BOKER Poet's Biography First Line: Who has not heard of the dauntless varuna Last Line: Oh! For the dead let us all kneel to pray! Subject(s): American Civil War; New Orleans, Battle Of (1862); United States - History; Varuna (ship) | ||||||||
WHO has not heard of the dauntless Varuna? Who has not heard of the deeds she has done? Who shall not hear, while the brown Mississippi Rushes along from the snow to the sun? Crippled and leaking she entered the battle, Sinking and burning she fought through the fray; Crushed were her sides and the waves ran across her, Ere, like a death-wounded lion at bay, Sternly she closed in the last fatal grapple, Then in her triumph moved grandly away. Five of the rebels, like satellites round her, Burned in her orbit of splendor and fear; One, like the Pleiad of mystical story, Shot, terror-stricken, beyond her dread sphere. We who are waiting with crowns for the victors, Though we should offer the wealth of our store, Load the Varuna from deck down to kelson, Still would be niggard, such tribute to pour On courage so boundless. It beggars possession, -- It knocks for just payment at heaven's bright door! Cherish the heroes who fought the Varuna; Treat them as kings if they honor your way; Succor and comfort the sick and the wounded; Oh! for the dead let us all kneel to pray! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DIRGE FOR A SOLDIER [SEPTEMBER 1, 1862] by GEORGE HENRY BOKER THE BATTLE OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN [NOVEMBER 24, 1863] by GEORGE HENRY BOKER THE BLACK REGIMENT by GEORGE HENRY BOKER BEFORE VICKSBURG by GEORGE HENRY BOKER FRANCESCA DA RIMINI by GEORGE HENRY BOKER HOOKER'S ACROSS by GEORGE HENRY BOKER LOVE SONNET by GEORGE HENRY BOKER ON BOARD THE CUMBERLAND by GEORGE HENRY BOKER PRINCE ADEB by GEORGE HENRY BOKER |
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