Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WASHINGTON BY THE DELAWARE, by CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WASHINGTON BY THE DELAWARE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The snow was red with patriot blood
Last Line: Think, think of washington!
Alternate Author Name(s): Miller, Joaquin
Subject(s): American Revolution; Courage; Delaware (river); Trenton, Battle Of (1776); Valor; Bravery


The snow was red with patriot blood,
The proud foe tracked the blood-red snow.
The flying patriots crossed the flood
A tattered, shattered band of woe.
Forlorn each barefoot hero stood,
With bare head bended low.

"Let us cross back! Death waits us here:
Recross or die!" the chieftain said.
A famished soldier dropped a tear --
A tear that froze as it was shed:
For oh, his starving babes were dear --
They had but this for bread!

A captain spake: "It cannot be!
These bleeding men, why, what could they?
'Twould be as snowflakes in a sea!"
The worn chief did not heed or say.
He set his firm lips silently,
Then turned aside to pray.

And as he kneeled and prayed to God,
God's finger spun the stars in space;
He spread his banner blue and broad,
He dashed the dead sun's stripes in place,
Till war walked heaven fire shod
And lit the chieftain's face:

Till every soldier's heart was stirred,
Till every sword shook in its sheath --
"Up! up! Face back. But not one word!"
God's flag above; the ice beneath --
They crossed so still, they only heard
The icebergs grinding their teeth!

Ho! Hessians, hirelings at meat
While praying patriots hunger so!
Then, bang! Boom! Bang! Death and defeat!
And blood? Ay, blood upon the snow!
Yet not the blood of patriot feet,
But heart's blood of the foe!

O ye who hunger and despair!
O ye who perish for the sun,
Look up and dare, for God is there;
And man can do what man has done!
Think, think of darkling Delaware!
Think, think of Washington!





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