Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, RIO BRAVO - A MEXICAN LAMENT, by DON JOSE DE SALTILLO


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

RIO BRAVO - A MEXICAN LAMENT, by                    
First Line: Rio bravo! Rio bravo!
Last Line: Ye are names blent evermore.
Subject(s): U.s. - Mexican War (1846-1848)


RIO BRAVO! Rio Bravo!
Saw men ever such a sight?
Since the field of Roncesvalles
Sealed the fate of many a knight.

Dark is Palo Alto's story,
Sad Reseca Palma's rout,
On those fatal fields so gory,
Many a gallant life went out.

There our best and bravest lances
Shivered 'gainst the Northern steel,
Left the valiant hearts that couched them
'Neath the Northern charger's heel.

Rio Bravo! Rio Bravo!
Minstrel ne'er knew such a fight
Since the field of Roncesvalles
Sealed the fate of many a knight.

Rio Bravo, fatal river,
Saw ye not while red with gore,
Torrejon all headless quiver,
A ghastly trunk upon thy shore!

Heard you not the wounded coursers
Shrieking on your trampled banks,
As the Northern winged artillery
Thundered on our shattered ranks!

There Arista, best and bravest,
There Raguena, tried and true,
On the fatal field thou lavest,
Nobly did all men could do.

Vainly there those heroes rally,
Castile on Montezuma's shore,
"Rio Bravo" -- "Roncesvalles,"
Ye are names blent evermore.

Weepest thou, lorn lady Inez,
For thy lover 'mid the slain,
Brave La Vega's trenchant falchion
Cleft his slayer to the brain.

Brave La Vega who all lonely,
By a host of foes beset,
Yielded up his sabre only
When his equal there he met.

Other champions not less noted
Sleep beneath that sullen wave;
Rio Bravo, thou hast floated
An army to an ocean grave.

On they came, those Northern horsemen,
On like eagles toward the sun,
Followed then the Northern bayonet,
And the field was lost and won.

Oh! for Orlando's horn to rally
His Paladins on that sad shore,
"Rio Bravo" -- "Roncesvalles,"
Ye are names blent evermore.





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