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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DEATH RIDE, by RICHARD SOLOMON GEDNEY Poet's Biography
First Line: On o'er the rocky ground
Last Line: Heroic ones!
Subject(s): Death; Memory; Dead, The
First Line: On o'er the rocky ground
Last Line: Heroic ones!
Subject(s): Death; Memory; Dead, The
On o'er the rocky ground,
Cannon on all sides round
Belching forth death and wound,
Madly they rode!
On! like a Demon-blast,
Thundering and fierce and fast,
Fear to the winds they cast,
Needing no goad!
On! through the rocky dell!
On! through the cannon's hell!
On! though by heaps they fell,
Dying and dead!
On! with a whirlwind's leap!
Down on the Russ they sweep!
Madly their swords they steep
Where the foe bled!
On! without stop or stay,
Cleaving their bloody way
Through that immense array,
Through to the rear!
"Well done, my gallant men!
"Halt, and return again.
"On! and charge boldly then!
"Who feels a fear?"
Back! through the serried rank
Closing around their flank,—
Deeply their wet blades drank
Bloodshed anew!
Back! through that iron hail!
Back! through that hollow vale!
Back! through that deadly dale!
Scattered and few!
Long shall the memory last
Of that fierce ride and fast,
When through the carnage past
England's brave sons.
Centuries hence shall tell
How, in that fatal dell,
Riding to Death they fell,
Heroic ones!
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