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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SIXTY YEARS AGO TO-DAY, by WILLIAM A. PHELON
First Line: Dense clouds of dust on the virginia roads--
Last Line: Of appomattox—and the final scene!
Subject(s): Appomattox, Virginia; Soldiers; Southern States; War; South (u.s.)
First Line: Dense clouds of dust on the virginia roads--
Last Line: Of appomattox—and the final scene!
Subject(s): Appomattox, Virginia; Soldiers; Southern States; War; South (u.s.)
DENSE clouds of dust on the Virginia roads—
White puffs of gunfire on the trampled way—
The clash of musketry, the crash of shells,
A marching myriad of men in gray.
Lee's ragged legions, glorious in defeat,
A dwindling phalanx and a broken band,
Retreating—yes—like lions in retreat,
Seeking a field to stage a final stand!
The April skies look down with rainbow beam
On the last splendors of a vanished dream!
Close on the track the thick-massed ranks of blue
Advance resistless—narrowing circles close
Upon the thinning regiments of gray,
Surrounded, overwhelmed, by countless foes.
The batteries keep hurling iron rain,
Grant's horsemen ride, in great concentric swoops,
Around the wearied warriors of the South,
Wearied platoons—fast shrinking into groups!
The smoke-wreaths die among the orchard's green
Of Appomattox—and the final scene!
Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!
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O SOUTHLAND! by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON
MY SOUTH: 1. ON THE PORCH by DONALD JUSTICE
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A FOOL THERE WAS by WILLIAM A. PHELON