Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MECKLENBURG DECLARATION, by WILLIAM C. ELAM


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MECKLENBURG DECLARATION, by                    
First Line: Oppressed and few, but freemen yet
Last Line: To place on patriot brows the victor's crown!
Subject(s): American Revolution; North Carolina


OPPRESSED and few, but freemen yet,
The men of Mecklenburg had met
Determined to be free,
And crook no coward knee,
Though Might in front and Treason at the back
Brought death and ruin in their joint attack.

The tyrant's heel was on the land
When Polk convoked his gallant band,
And told in words full strong
The bitter tale of wrong,
Then came a whisper, like the storm's first waves:
"We must be independent, or be slaves!"

But, hark! What hurried rider, this,
With jaded horse and garb amiss,
Whose look some woe proclaims,
Ere he his mission names?
He rides amain from far-off Lexington,
And tells the blood-red news of war begun!

Then Brevard, Balch, and Kennon spoke
The wise bold words that aye invoke
Men to defend the right
And scorn the despot's might;
Until from all there rose the answering cry:
"We will be independent, or we die."

When Alexander called the vote,
No dastard "nay's" discordant note
Broke on that holy air --
For dastard none was there!
But in prompt answer to their country's call,
They pledged life, fortune, sacred honor -- all!

In solemn hush the people heard;
With shout and cheer they caught the word:
Independence! In that sign
We grasp our right divine;
For the tyrant's might and the traitor's hate
Must yield to men who fight for God and State!

The hero shout flew on the breeze;
Rushed from the mountains to the seas;
Till all the land uprose,
Their faces to their foes,
Shook off the thraldom they so long had borne,
And swore the oath that Mecklenburg had sworn!

And well those men maintained the right;
They kept the faith, and fought the fight;
Till Might and Treason both
Fled fast before the oath
Which brought the God of Freedom's battles down
To place on patriot brows the victor's crown!





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