Classic and Contemporary Poetry
NATHAN HALE, by CHESTER FIRKINS First Line: Somewhere beneath the thundering city's pave Last Line: His solemn and triumphant requiem Subject(s): Cemeteries; Hale, Nathan (1755-1776); New York City; Graveyards; Manhattan; New York, New York; The Big Apple | ||||||||
Somewhere beneath the thundering city's pave, An unmarked grave; Somewhere in the vast spaces beyond Time, A fame sublime; And that is all we watchers here below May dream or know Of him, the tranquil and intrepid soul Who died for us among the death-drum's roll In Henry Rutgers' orchard long ago. You've been, perchance, in Market Street, Where now the weary, hurrying feet Of thousands clatter, day by day, To join the throngs of East Broadway; Where creak and crash of car and dray Mingle with children's voices sweet; Where poverty and sorrow meet, And yet where some seem always gay. Though toil and tumult wrap you 'round, Tread softlyit is holy ground! 'Twas in September of the year When Liberty first lifted clear Her daring sword, they brought him here, And slew him as he faced them bound, And buried him without a mound Or yet a blossom for his bier! Oh, if your heart as mine doth burn, These tenemental walls will turn Into a yellowing orchard close, With redcoat men in silent rows; And he, in high, serene repose, Lifts eyes that but a moment yearn Toward his torn letters 'mongst the fern As proudly to his doom he goes. Somewhere beneath the thundering city's pave, An unmarked grave; But is not the great city o'er him sprent His better monument? These mighty sons of Cæsar and of Shem, He died for them! The tumult of the hosts he helped to free, The roar of the wide mart, his elegy, His solemn and triumphant requiem | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...READY FOR THE CANNERY by BERTON BRALEY TRANTER IN AMERICA by AUGUST KLEINZAHLER MEETING YOU AT THE PIERS by KENNETH KOCH FEBRUARY EVENING IN NEW YORK by DENISE LEVERTOV ON 52ND STREET by PHILIP LEVINE THREE POEMS FOR NEW YORK by JOSEPHINE MILES NEW YORK SUBWAY by HILDA MORLEY ON A SUBWAY EXPRESS by CHESTER FIRKINS |
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