THE loud drums are rolling, the mad trumpets blow! To battle! the war is begun and we go To humble the pride of an arrogant foe! The ensign and standard which wave for the Crown Of Castile and Aragon -- trample them down! Granada and Leon and haughty Navarre Shall lower their banner to Cuba's lone star! Now under Old Glory, the Blue and the Gray United march shoulder to shoulder away, To meet the Hidalgos in furious fray. With musket and haversack ready are we To tramp the globe over, to sweep every sea, From isles of dead Philip to Florida's Key. We think of the Maine and our hot bosoms swell With rage of love's sorrow, which vengeance must quell, And then we are ready to storm gates of Hell, Our flag streams aloft by the tempest unfurled! We strike for a Continent; -- nay, for the World! Mene, Tekel, Upharsin! the thunder is hurled! The ensign and standard which wave for the Crown Of Castile and Aragon -- trample them down! Granada and Leon and haughty Navarre Shall lower their banner to Cuba's lone star! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WHEN I WROTE A LITTLE by HAYDEN CARRUTH IN THE HOLY NATIVITY [OF OUR LORD GOD]; AS SUNG BY SHEPHERDS by RICHARD CRASHAW A SECOND REVIEW OF THE GRAND ARMY [MAY 24, 1865] by FRANCIS BRET HARTE THE DEATH OF HARRISON by NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS A BALLADE OF LAWN TENNIS by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS |