Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, NO SURRENDER, by CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH TONNA


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

NO SURRENDER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Behold the crimson banners float
Last Line: Their patriot -- 'no surrender!'
Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Charlotte Elizabeth
Subject(s): Freedom; Liberty


BEHOLD the crimson banners float
O'er yonder turrets hoary;
They tell of days of mighty note,
And Derry's deathless glory;
When her brave sons undaunted stood,
Embattled to defend her,
Indignant stemmed oppression's flood,
And sung out, 'No Surrender!'

Old Derry's walls were firm and strong,
Well fenced in every quarter,
Each frowning bastion grim along,
With culverin and mortar;
But Derry had a surer guard
Than all that art could lend her,
Her 'prentice boys the gate who barred,
And sung out, 'No Surrender!'

On came the force in bigot ire,
And fierce the assault was given;
By shot and shell, 'mid streams of fire,
Her fated roofs were riven:
But baffled was the tyrant's wrath,
And vain his hopes to bend her,
For still 'mid famine, fire, and death,
She sung out, 'No Surrender!'

Again, when treason maddened round,
And rebel hordes were swarming,
Were Derry's sons the foremost found,
For king and country arming:
Forth, forth they rushed at honour's call,
From age to boyhood tender,
Again to man their virgin wall,
And sung out, 'No Surrender!'

Long may the crimson banner wave,
A meteor streaming airy,
Portentous of the free and brave
Who man the walls of Derry:
And Derry's sons alike defy
Pope, traitor, or pretender;
And peal to heaven their 'prentice cry,
Their patriot -- 'No Surrender!'





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