Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SUNDOWN IN VIRGINIA, by WILLIAM A. PHELON



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SUNDOWN IN VIRGINIA, by                    
First Line: This is a strange world. Onct, I wouldn't thank
Last Line: Do me a favor, will you? Call me yank!
Subject(s): Soldiers; Virginia (state); War; World War I; First World War


THIS is a strange world. Onct, I wouldn't thank
The consarned fool—the blankety-blankety-blank—
Who, knowin' how I served the C. S. A.,
Would have the very nerve to call me "Yank!"
In fact, I'd bust him like a gourd. That name
Would rouse in me the old-time fightin' flame,
Till I saw red, I would! Yes, I was licked,
Licked by them Yanks—but I was never tame!
These fifty years I've smouldered—you can bet
Through all that time I was a Rebel yet—
Plum unregenerated—that was me—
Changin' in nowise—what you'd call firm-set!

But somethin's happened-somethin' strange an' new
A sudden change that's thrilled me through an' through—
You felt it, Northern stranger? Why, it burns—
Burns out all differences 'twixt me an' you—
Burns out all hate for Yankees! T'other day
Your boys and my boys went upon their way
To kill Hell's slimy beast-and, somehow, then,
Somehow, my old allegiance went astray!
It's one old flag for both your boys an' mine—
It's North and South in one great fightin'-line—
Oh, stranger, if but you an' me could march
With those brave youngsters right acrost the Rhine!
I'm old an' tottery. Mighty soon I'll see
Longstreet an' Jackson, an' Marse Robert Lee—
An' when I meet my generals, I know
That none of them will be ashamed of me—
Not of the way I fought in times gone past—
Not of the way I faced the bullet-blast—
Nor, least of all, about the way I changed
My thoughts an' sentiments, right at the last!

Our boys are fightin'! By the river bank
They led the charge that broke the German flank,
Like us at Chickamauga! Stranger-please—
Do me a favor, will you? CALL ME YANK!





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