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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE GALLANT FIFTY-ONE, by HENRY LYNDEN FLASH First Line: Freedom called them - up they rose Last Line: Gallant band of fifty-one! Subject(s): Crittenden, William L.; Cuba - Rebellions Against Spanish Rule; Lopez, Narcisco | |||
WHO FORMED PART OF THE LOPEZ EXPEDITION AND WERE EXECUTED BY THE SPANISH AUTHORITIES IN HAVANA FREEDOM called them -- up they rose, Grasped their swords and showered blows On the heads of Freedom's foes -- And Freedom's foes alone. Fate decreed that they should die; Pitying angels breathed a sigh; Freedom wildly wept on high, For the gallant Fifty-one! There they stood in proud array, None for mercy there would pray; None would coward looks betray -- All stood forth with fearless eye, Showing by their dauntless air, What their noble souls could dare; Showing to the tyrants there, How Freedom's sons could die. None there strove their fate to shun -- Gallant band of Fifty-one! Then a voice the stillness broke: 'T was their gallant leader spoke, Scorning to receive Death's stroke, Kneeling humbly on the sod! Gazing calmly on the dead, Whose life-blood had just been shed Proudly then the words he said, "Americans kneel but to God!" Perished thus Kentucky's son -- Leader of the Fifty-one. Rejoice! sons of Thermopylae! Kindred spirits join with thee, Who fell in fight for Liberty, For Freedom's sacred name. Future days their deeds shall tell, How they nobly fought and fell, Youthful bosoms proudly swell At mention of their fame -- Rays of light from Freedom's sun, Gallant band of Fifty-one! Honor's rays will ever shed Glory 'round their hallowed bed. Though their hearts are cold and dead, Though their sands of life have run, Still their names revered will be, Among the noble and the free -- Glorious sons of Liberty; Gallant band of Fifty-one! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FLAG by HENRY LYNDEN FLASH ZOLLICOFFER by HENRY LYNDEN FLASH I PAY MY DEBT FOR LAFAYETTE AND ROCHAMBEAU' by EDGAR LEE MASTERS DO YOU FEAR THE WIND? by HAMLIN GARLAND LIMERICK by OLIVER BROOK HERFORD ON A SOLDIER FALLEN IN THE PHILIPPINES by WILLIAM VAUGHN MOODY THE MORAL FABLES: THE SWALLOW, AND THE OTHER BIRDS by AESOP ODES: BOOK 2: ODE 13. TO AUTHOR OF MEMOIRS OF HOUSE OF BRANDENBURGH by MARK AKENSIDE SEVEN SAD SONNETS: 1. THE HAPPENING by MARY REYNOLDS ALDIS |
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