Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE TREES OF HADDONFIELD, by THOMAS J. MURRAY First Line: I sing of haddonfield, west jersey's town Last Line: The starry banner and the union jack. Subject(s): Cities; New Jersey; Trees; Urban Life | ||||||||
I sing of Haddonfield, West Jersey's town Whose name was ancient when the British George Flung Hessian tools and stalwart English blood Across the ocean leagues to his far lands That blazed in red rebellion; Tories fawned In Penn's green country town on this great host And, stooping, begged their Excellencies' wish. The Winter passed in revelry and song, And all the captured city's windows burned, While hall and tavern throbbed with mellow mirth; But, past the English outposts, Valley Forge Shrank in an iron Winter's harsh embrace, Its loyal legions looking o'er the snow, Torn by the double foes of want and cold. Then turned the tides of war and eastward fled The foe to troop-ships at the Hudson's mouth; Through sylvan Haddonfield arms and the men Thronged the King's Highway, labeled then as now, Under some pleasant trees that have outlived The fleeing enemy and valiant friend; Beneath their branches floated battle flags Stained with defeat to travel overseas, Leaving behind an empire and a flag. . . . The sap stirred in these trees a hundred Springs, And in their shade men talked and trooped to wars; Long afterward, nearby, a temple reared Whose screen flashed moving films of battletides Of puppet regiments on peaceful fields, While o'er the roof the trees' great branches tossed As though in anger at this hollow show, And would recall from out the years a scene To render pitiful this mimic fray, When in the dust-clouds of retreating foes Faded the royal hopes of high emprise. Again beneath the lordly trees there swims The crimson flag of England last descried Fading afar above the sullen lines; But now, allied in Freedom's holy cause, On swirling motor cars the colors swim -- The starry banner and the Union Jack. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THINGS (FOR AN INDIAN) TO DO IN NEW YORK (CITY) by SHERMAN ALEXIE THE CITY REVISITED by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET TEN OXHERDING PICTURES: ENTERING THE CITY WITH BLISS-BESTOWING HANDS by LUCILLE CLIFTON THE CITY OF THE OLESHA FRUIT by NORMAN DUBIE DISCOVERING THE PHOTOGRAPH OF LLOYD, EARL, AND PRISCILLA by LYNN EMANUEL MY DIAMOND STUD by ALICE FULTON |
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