Classic and Contemporary Poetry
"FORT MCHENRY [SEPTEMBER 13, 1814]", by ANONYMOUS First Line: "thy blue waves, patapsco, flow'd soft" Last Line: And when the brave fall - ever hallow their tomb Subject(s): "fort Mchenry, Battle Of (1814);war Of 1812; | ||||||||
THY blue waves, Patapsco, flow'd soft and serene, Thy hills and thy valleys were cheerful and gay, While the day-star of Peace shed its beams on the scene, And youth, love, and beauty reflected its ray. Where white-bosom'd commerce late reign'd o'er thy tide, And zephyrs of gladness expanded each sail, I saw hostile squadrons in dread array ride, While their thunders reechoed o'er hill and o'er vale. But our heroes, thy sons, proud in panoply rose, For their homes, -- for their altars, -- to conquer or die; With the lightning of freedom encounter'd their foes; Taught the veteran to tremble, -- the valiant to fly. Now, how tranquil thy scenes when the clangors of war Late broke the soft dreams of the fair and the young! To the tombs of thy heroes shall beauty repair, And their deeds by our bards shall forever be sung. On the iron-crown'd fortress "that frowns o'er thy flood," And tells the sad fate of the gay and the brave, In mournful reflection Eliza late stood, And paid a soft tribute -- a tear on their grave. To the manes of the fallen, oh! how grateful that tear! Far sweeter to me than the Spring's richest bloom: Such rewards light the fire of Chivalry here, And when the brave fall -- ever hallow their tomb. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SITTING BULL IN SERBIA by WILLIAM JAY SMITH TO THE EXCELLENT ORINDA by PHILO PHILIPPA EPIGRAM OCCASIONED BY CIBBER'S VERSES IN PRAISE OF NASH: 1 by ALEXANDER POPE THE GIFT OF THE GODS by JOHN GODFREY SAXE TO CHRISTOPHER NORTH by ALFRED TENNYSON BEAU NASH by CHARLES TENNYSON TURNER BEAU NASH AND THE ROMAN, OR THE TWO ERAS by CHARLES TENNYSON TURNER TIS A LITTLE JOURNEY by ANONYMOUS |
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