Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO CANAAN; A PURITAN WAR-SONG, by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Where are you going, soldiers Last Line: A whirlwind from the north! Subject(s): American Civil War; United States - History | ||||||||
WHERE are you going, soldiers, With banner, gun, and sword? We're marching South to Canaan To battle for the Lord! What Captain leads your armies Along the rebel coasts? The Mighty One of Israel, His name is Lord of Hosts! To Canaan, to Canaan The Lord has led us forth, To blow before the heathen walls The trumpets of the North! What flag is this you carry Along the sea and shore? The same our grandsires lifted up, -- The same our fathers bore! In many a battle's tempest It shed the crimson rain, -- What God has woven in his loom Let no man rend in twain! To Canaan, to Canaan The Lord has led us forth, To plant upon the rebel towers The banners of the North! What troop is this that follows, All armed with picks and spades? These are the swarthy bondsmen, -- The iron-skin brigades! They'll pile up Freedom's breastwork, They'll scoop out rebels' graves; Who then will be their owner And march them off for slaves? To Canaan, to Canaan The Lord has led us forth, To strike upon the captive's chain The hammers of the North! What song is this you're singing? The same that Israel sung When Moses led the mighty choir, And Miriam's timbrel rung! To Canaan! To Canaan! The priests and maidens cried: To Canaan! To Canaan! The people's voice replied. To Canaan, to Canaan The Lord has led us forth, To thunder through its adder dens The anthems of the North! When Canaan's hosts are scattered, And all her walls lie flat, What follows next in order? The Lord will see to that! We'll break the tyrant's sceptre, -- We'll build the people's throne, -- When half the world is Freedom's, Then all the world's our own! To Canaan, to Canaan The Lord has led us forth, To sweep the rebel threshing-floors, A whirlwind from the North! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A VISIT TO GETTYSBURG by LUCILLE CLIFTON AFTER SPOTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE by DAVID FERRY ACROSS THE LONG DARK BORDER by EDWARD HIRSCH WALT WHITMAN IN THE CIVIL WAR HOSPITALS by DAVID IGNATOW THE DAY OF THE DEAD SOLDIERS; MARY 30, 1869 by EMMA LAZARUS MANHATTAN, 1609 by EDWIN MARKHAM THE DECISION (APRIL 14, 1861) by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE SPARROW HARK IN THE RAIN (ALEXANDER STEPHENS HEARS NEWS) by EDGAR LEE MASTERS A BALLAD OF THE BOSTON TEA-PARTY [DECEMBER 16, 1773] by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES |
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