Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SHERIDAN AT CEDAR CREEK, by HERMAN MELVILLE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Shoe the steed with silver Last Line: Where the nameless followers sleep. Subject(s): American Civil War; Cedar Creek, Battle Of (1864); Sheridan, Philip Henry (1831-1888); United States - History | ||||||||
SHOE the steed with silver That bore him to the fray, When he heard the guns at dawning -- Miles away; When he heard them calling, calling -- Mount! nor stay: Quick, or all is lost; They've surprised and stormed the post, They push your routed host -- Gallop! retrieve the day. House the horse in ermine -- For the foam-flake blew White through the red October; He thundered into view; They cheered him in the looming, Horseman and horse they knew. The turn of the tide began, The rally of bugles ran, He swung his hat in the van; The electric hoof-spark flew. Wreathe the steed and lead him -- For the charge he led Touched and turned the cypress Into amaranths for the head Of Philip, king of riders, Who raised them from the dead. The camp (at dawning lost) By eve, recovered -- forced, Rang with laughter of the host As belated Early fled. Shroud the horse in sable -- For the mounds they heap! There is firing in the Valley, And yet no strife they keep; It is the parting volley, It is the pathos deep. There is glory for the brave Who lead, and nobly save, But no knowledge in the grave Where the nameless followers sleep. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A VISIT TO GETTYSBURG by LUCILLE CLIFTON AFTER SPOTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE by DAVID FERRY ACROSS THE LONG DARK BORDER by EDWARD HIRSCH WALT WHITMAN IN THE CIVIL WAR HOSPITALS by DAVID IGNATOW THE DAY OF THE DEAD SOLDIERS; MARY 30, 1869 by EMMA LAZARUS MANHATTAN, 1609 by EDWIN MARKHAM THE DECISION (APRIL 14, 1861) by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE SPARROW HARK IN THE RAIN (ALEXANDER STEPHENS HEARS NEWS) by EDGAR LEE MASTERS FORMERLY A SLAVE' (AN IDEALIZED PORTRAIT, BY E. VEDDER) by HERMAN MELVILLE THE COMING STORM' (A PICTURE BY R. S. GIFFORD) by HERMAN MELVILLE A DIRGE FOR MCPHERSON; KILLED IN FRONT OF ATLANTA by HERMAN MELVILLE |
|