Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ULRIC DAHLGREN, by KATE BROWNLEE SHERWOOD


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ULRIC DAHLGREN, by                    
First Line: A flash of light across the night
Last Line: In our republic's coronet!
Subject(s): American Civil War; Courage; Dahlgren, Ulric; Richmond Campaign (1864); U.s. - History; Valor; Bravery


A FLASH of light across the night,
An eager face, an eye afire!
O lad so true, you yet may rue
The courage of your deep desire!

"Nay, tempt me not; the way is plain --
'T is but the coward checks his rein;
For there they lie,
And there they cry,
For whose dear sake 't were joy to die!"

He bends unto his saddlebow,
The steeds they follow two and two;
Their flanks are wet with foam and sweat,
Their riders' locks are damp with dew.

"O comrades, haste! the way is long,
The dirge it drowns the battle-song;
The hunger preys,
The famine slays,
An awful horror veils our ways!"

Beneath the pall of prison wall
The rush of hoofs they seem to hear;
From loathsome guise they lift their eyes,
And beat their bars and bend their ear.

"Ah, God be thanked! our friends are nigh;
He wills it not that thus we die;
O fiends accurst
Of Want and Thirst,
Our comrades gather, -- do your worst!"

A sharp affright runs through the night,
An ambush stirred, a column reined;
The hurrying steed has checked his speed,
His smoking flanks are crimson stained.

O noble son of noble sire,
Thine ears are deaf to our desire!
O knightly grace
Of valiant race,
The grave is honor's trysting-place!

O life so pure! O faith so sure!
O heart so brave, and true, and strong!
With tips of flame is writ your name,
In annaled deed and storied song!

It flares across the solemn night,
It glitters in the radiant light;
A jewel set,
Unnumbered yet,
In our Republic's coronet!





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