Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MANTLE OF WASHINGTON, by ROYALL TYLER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MANTLE OF WASHINGTON, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Hark! Heard ye not the cannons roar
Last Line: For washingtons mantle is peace and free trade.
Alternate Author Name(s): Old Simon; S.
Subject(s): Presidents, United States; Washington, George (1732-1799)


HARK! heard ye not the cannons roar
The volied Muskets murd'rous peal
The dreadfull battles wild uproar
The horrid clash of hostile steel?
Hark! heard ye not that savage yell?
That female shriek! -- that dying groan?
That groan was the fond husbands knell
That skriek, the hapless widows moan.

The foe is triumphant, the war-hoop proclaims;
The scalps are suspended, the wounded are dead;
The dwelling of peace is a prey to the flames;
And the captive in tears into bondage is led.
Ah! where are her husband, her children, her babe?
Her babe which she press'd with delight to her breast;
The tomahawk sunk -- on the cold earth they're laid;
The brains of the babe mark the spot where they rest

Foul Demon of War! could not Europe suffice
To glut thy gaunt maw with the life of the brave?
But in our lov'd land -- must thy war-hoop arise?
And thy banners of blood o'er our continent wave?

At the Monsters dread march -- Lo! Happiness flies
And Commerce enfeebled droops, languishes, dies --
In this dread hour of dark dismay
When hope scarce points a distant ray
And no returning dove will bring
The olive branch with hasty wing
Say -- is there not one ray serene
To cheer the darksome gloomy scene?
Yes there's a time to mem'ry dear
A Name -- which wretchedness can cheer --

Spirit of our Country rise
From thy leaden slumber rise,
Patriot Spirit! bring again
In fancys splendid train
The recollection dear of those proud days,
When our National name
Fill'd the loud trump of Fame,
And the Universe echo'd with Washingtons Praise!

Father of thy Country -- Hear!
Godlike Washington appear --
(Summon to thy faithful side
Patriots once this Countrys pride
With Thee in times of peril tri'd)
And bid the appalling war hoop cease

On this thy natal hour
Display thy wonted power,
And give thy bleeding Country Peace.

Deaf to our prayers the Chieftain's laid
In the dark earth of Vernons shade
No more for us the hero fights
No more the statesman guards our rights
Insatiate Death! that vengefull blow
Which laid the Matchless Chieftain low
Blasted our Countrys Glory too --
Fierce Despot of the dying hour
The mortal only own'd thy sway
His spirit scorn'd thy feeble power

And sought the realms of endless day --
Sainted Spirit stay thy flight
Thine are glory's robes and crown
Stay thy flaming car of light
And cast thy earthly mantle down --
Joy! Joy! to our Country his mantle descends
It is born[e] in proud tryumph by Washingtons friends.

On Oceans wide domain
Where her sons our rights maintain
And conquer bleed or die
While Britains yield or fly,
And the Indent forc'd from their grasp
Then amidst the battles roar,
Does his fost'ring spirit soar
And his Mantle waves high on the mast.

Then come each Favourite Son
Of Immortal Washington
Let the Mantle he drop'd be boldly display'd
It will Commerce restore
Drive war from our shore
For Washingtons Mantle is Peace and Free Trade.





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