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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ENGLISH SOLDIER'S SONG OF MEMORY by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS

Poet Analysis

First Line: SING, SING IN MEMORY OF THE BRAVE DEPARTED
Last Line: OUR BRETHREN OF THE SWORD!
Subject(s): SOLDIERS;

SING, sing in memory of the brave departed,
Let song and wine be poured!
Pledge to their fame, the free and fearless hearted,
Our brethren of the sword!

Oft at the feast, and in the fight, their voices
Have mingled with our own;
Fill high the cup! but when the soul rejoices,
Forget not who are gone.

They that stood with us, midst the dead and dying,
On Albuera's plain;
They that beside us cheerily tracked the flying,
Far o'er the hills of Spain;

They that amidst us, when the shells were showering
From old Rodrigo's wall,
The rampart scaled, through clouds of battle towering,
First, first at Victory's call;

They that upheld the banners, proudly waving,
In Roncesvalles' dell,
With England's blood, the southern vineyards laving --
Forget not how they fell!

Sing, sing in memory of the brave departed,
Let song and wine be poured!
Pledge to their fame, the free and fearless hearted,
Our brethren of the sword!



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