Classic and Contemporary Poetry
RIO BRAVO - A MEXICAN LAMENT, by DON JOSE DE SALTILLO First Line: Rio bravo! Rio bravo! Last Line: Ye are names blent evermore. Subject(s): U.s. - Mexican War (1846-1848) | ||||||||
RIO BRAVO! Rio Bravo! Saw men ever such a sight? Since the field of Roncesvalles Sealed the fate of many a knight. Dark is Palo Alto's story, Sad Reseca Palma's rout, On those fatal fields so gory, Many a gallant life went out. There our best and bravest lances Shivered 'gainst the Northern steel, Left the valiant hearts that couched them 'Neath the Northern charger's heel. Rio Bravo! Rio Bravo! Minstrel ne'er knew such a fight Since the field of Roncesvalles Sealed the fate of many a knight. Rio Bravo, fatal river, Saw ye not while red with gore, Torrejon all headless quiver, A ghastly trunk upon thy shore! Heard you not the wounded coursers Shrieking on your trampled banks, As the Northern winged artillery Thundered on our shattered ranks! There Arista, best and bravest, There Raguena, tried and true, On the fatal field thou lavest, Nobly did all men could do. Vainly there those heroes rally, Castile on Montezuma's shore, "Rio Bravo" -- "Roncesvalles," Ye are names blent evermore. Weepest thou, lorn lady Inez, For thy lover 'mid the slain, Brave La Vega's trenchant falchion Cleft his slayer to the brain. Brave La Vega who all lonely, By a host of foes beset, Yielded up his sabre only When his equal there he met. Other champions not less noted Sleep beneath that sullen wave; Rio Bravo, thou hast floated An army to an ocean grave. On they came, those Northern horsemen, On like eagles toward the sun, Followed then the Northern bayonet, And the field was lost and won. Oh! for Orlando's horn to rally His Paladins on that sad shore, "Rio Bravo" -- "Roncesvalles," Ye are names blent evermore. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE VOLUNTEERS by WILLIAM HAINES LYTLE WHEN WITH PALE CHEEK AND SUNKEN EYE I SANG by HENRY DAVID THOREAU WAR FOR SLAVERY WAS WAGED FOR BASEST ENDS by WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON BIGLOW PAPERS: LETTER ... TO JOSEPH T. BUCKINGHAM by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL WAR BETWEEN TWO RACES OF ANTS by HENRY DAVID THOREAU THE FIDDLING WOOD by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET THE DANCE OF THE SEVIN DEIDLY SYNNIS by WILLIAM DUNBAR |
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