Classic and Contemporary Poetry
VIRGINIA CAPTA, by MARGARET JUNKIN PRESTON Poet's Biography First Line: Unconquer'd captive! - close thine eye Last Line: Thy chains, -- virginia victrix still! Subject(s): American Civil War; Richmond Campaign (1864); U.s. - History | ||||||||
UNCONQUER'D captive! -- close thine eye, And draw the ashen sackcloth o'er, And in thy speechless woe deplore The fate that would not let thee die! The arm that wore the shield, strip bare; The hand that held the martial rein, And hurled the spear on many a plain, -- Stretch -- till they clasp the shackles there! The foot that once could crush the crown, Must drag the fetters, till it bleed Beneath their weight: -- thou dost not need It now, to tread the tyrant down. Thou thought'st him vanquished -- boastful trust! -- His lance, in twain -- his sword, a wreck, -- But with his heel upon thy neck, He holds thee prostrate in the dust! Bend though thou must, beneath his will, Let not one abject moan have place; But with majestic, silent grace, Maintain thy regal bearing still. Look back through all thy storied past, And sit erect in conscious pride: No grander heroes ever died -- No sterner, battled to the last! Weep, if thou wilt, with proud, sad mien, Thy blasted hopes -- thy peace undone, -- Yet brave, live on, -- nor seek to shun Thy fate, like Egypt's conquer'd Queen. Though forced a captive's place to fill In the triumphal train, -- yet there, Superbly, like Zenobia, wear Thy chains, -- Virginia Victrix still! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...OLD OSAWATOMIE by CARL SANDBURG THE BONNIE BLUE FLAG by HARRY MACARTHY LEE'S PAROLE by MARION MANVILLE THE SURRENDER OF NEW ORLEANS by MARION MANVILLE THE LITTLE ODYSSEY OF JASON QUINT, OF SCIENCE, DOCTOR by THOMAS MCGRATH A CANTICLE: SIGNIFICANT OF NATIONAL EXALTATION CLOSE OF WAR by HERMAN MELVILLE A GRAVE NEAR PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA by HERMAN MELVILLE THE FIRST PROCLAMATION OF MILES STANDISH [NOVEMBER 23, 1620] by MARGARET JUNKIN PRESTON THE FIRST THANKSGIVING DAY [1621] by MARGARET JUNKIN PRESTON UNDER THE SHADE OF THE TREES [MAY 10, 1863] by MARGARET JUNKIN PRESTON |
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