Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SAVANNAH, by ALETHEA S. BURROUGHS First Line: Thou hast not drooped thy stately head Last Line: Savannah! O savannah! Subject(s): American Civil War; Savannah, Georgia; United States - History | ||||||||
THOU hast not drooped thy stately head, Thy woes a wondrous beauty shed! Not like a lamb to slaughter led, But with the lion's monarch tread, Thou comest to thy battle bed, Savannah! O Savannah! Thine arm of flesh is girded strong; The blue veins swell beneath thy wrong; To thee the triple cords belong Of woe and death and shameless wrong, And spirit vaunted long, too long! Savannah! O Savannah! No blood-stains spot thy forehead fair; Only the martyrs' blood is there; It gleams upon thy bosom bare, It moves thy deep, deep soul to prayer, And tunes a dirge for thy sad ear, Savannah! O Savannah! Thy clean white hand is opened wide For weal or woe, thou Freedom Bride; The sword-sheath sparkles at thy side, Thy plighted troth, whate'er betide, Thou hast but Freedom for thy guide, Savannah! O Savannah! What though the heavy storm-cloud lowers, Still at thy feet the old oak towers; Still fragrant are thy jessamine bowers, And things of beauty, love, and flowers Are smiling o'er this land of ours, My sunny home, Savannah! There is no film before thy sight, -- Thou seest woe and death and night, And blood upon thy banner bright; But in thy full wrath's kindled might What carest thou for woe or night? My rebel home, Savannah! Come -- for the crown is on thy head! Thy woes a wondrous beauty shed; Not like a lamb to slaughter led, But with the lion's monarch tread, Oh! come unto thy battle bed, Savannah! O Savannah! | 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 NOTHING WILL CURE THE SICK LION BUT TO EAT AN APE' by MARIANNE MOORE |
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