Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE HERO OF FORT WAGNER, by PHOEBE CARY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Fort wagner! That is a place for us Last Line: "and you can scale the wall!" Subject(s): American Civil War; United States - History | ||||||||
FORT Wagner! that is a place for us To remember well, my lad! For us, who were under the guns, and know The bloody work we had. I should not speak to one so young, Perhaps, as I do to you; But you are a soldier's son, my boy, And you know what soldiers do. And when peace comes to our land again, And your father sits in his home, You will hear such tales of war as this, For many a year to come. We were repulsed from the Fort, you know, And saw our heroes fall, Till the dead were piled in bloody heaps Under the frowning wall. Yet crushed as we were and beaten back, Our spirits never bowed; And gallant deeds that day were done To make a soldier proud. Brave men were there, for their country's sake To spend their latest breath; But the bravest was one who gave his life And his body after death. No greater words than his dying ones Have been spoken under the sun; Not even his, who brought the news On the field at Ratisbon. I was pressing up, to try if yet Our men might take the place, And my feet had slipped in his oozing blood Before I saw his face. His face! it was black as the skies o'erhead With the smoke of the angry guns; And a gash in his bosom showed the work Of our country's traitor sons. Your pardon, my poor boy! I said, I did not see you here; But I will not hurt you as I pass; I'll have a care; no fear! He smiled; he had only strength to say These words, and that was all: "I'm done gone, Massa; step on me; And you can scale the wall!" | 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 A LEGEND OF THE NORTHLAND by PHOEBE CARY |
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