EIGHTY and nine with their captain Rode on the enemy's track, Rode in the gray of the morning: Nine of the ninety came back. Slow rose the mist from the river, Lighter each moment the way: Careless and tearless and fearless Galloped they on to the fray. Singing in tune, how the scabbards Loud on the stirrup-irons rang, Clinked as the men rose in saddle, Fell as they sank with a clang. What is it moves by the river, Jaded and weary and weak, Gray-backs -- a cross on their banner -- Yonder the foe whom they seek. Silence! They see not, they hear not, Tarrying there by the marge: Forward! Draw sabre! Trot! Gallop! Charge! like a hurricane, charge! Ah! 't was a man-trap infernal -- Fire like the deep pit of hell! Volley on volley to meet them, Mixed with the gray rebel's yell. Ninety had ridden to battle, Tracing the enemy's track, -- Ninety had ridden to battle, Nine of the ninety came back. Honor the name of the ninety; Honor the heroes who came Scatheless from five hundred muskets, Safe from the lead-bearing flame. Eighty and one of the troopers Lie on the field of the slain -- Lie on the red field of honor: Honor the nine who remain! Cold are the dead there, and gory, There where their life-blood was spilt, Back come the living, each sabre Red from the point to the hilt. Give them three cheers and a tiger! Let the flags wave as they come! Give them the blare of the trumpet! Give them the roll of the drum! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO ELIZABETH, COUNTESS OF RUTLAND by BEN JONSON THE RUBAIYAT, 1879 EDITION: 18 by OMAR KHAYYAM CLEVER TOM CLINCH GOING TO BE HANGED by JONATHAN SWIFT INDIGNATION; AN ODE by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE THE HARVEST by EVA K. ANGLESBURG THE POET by PHILIP JAMES BAILEY THE BALLAD OF BITTER FRUIT by THEODORE FAULLAIN DE BANVILLE TO HIS WORSHIPFULL WEL-WILLER, MAISTER EDWARD LEIGH by RICHARD BARNFIELD |