LOADED with gallant soldiers, A boat shot in to the land, And lay at the right of Rodman's Point, With her keel upon the sand. lightly, gayly, they came to shore, And never a man afraid; When sudden the enemy opened fire, From his deadly ambuscade. Each man fell flat on the bottom Of the boat; and the captain said: "If we lie here, we all are captured, And the first who moves is dead!" Then out spoke a negro sailor, No slavish soul had he: "Somebody's got to die, boys, And it might as well be me!" Firmly he rose, and fearlessly Stepped out into the tide; He pushed the vessel safely off, Then fell across her side: Fell, pierced by a dozen bullets, As the boat swung clear and free; -- But there was n't a man of them that day Who was fitter to die than he! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOLY WILLIE'S PRAYER by ROBERT BURNS FORBIDDEN FRUIT: 2 by EMILY DICKINSON DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI: 6. NIGHT LANDING by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER WHAT MY LOVER SAID by HOMER GREENE EPITAPH ON THE TOMB OF SIR EDWARD GILES AND HIS WIFE by ROBERT HERRICK GHOST STARS by MADELEINE AARON BRUCE: HOW THE BRUCE CROSSED LOCH LOMOND by JOHN BARBOUR ADDRESS TO SUBSCRIBERS .. FUND FOR CLOTHING CHILDREN CHARITY SCHOOL by BERNARD BARTON |