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Old 05-27-2001, 07:20 PM   #1
Sazerac
Ironworks Moderator
 

Join Date: January 7, 2001
Location: Monroe, LA
Age: 60
Posts: 7,387
In honor of those who lay down their lives to protect us, our homes, and our country (wherever we may be, US or otherwise), I wish to reproduce this. It was originally written by a 19th century poet, Theodore O'Hara, and although it pertained to a specific battle, it is timeless enough to be universal to all fallen heroes everywhere.

Thank you, brave men and women, for the sacrifice you made.



"The Bivouac of the Dead" (THEODORE O'HARA, 1847)

The muffled drum's sad roll has beat
The soldier's last tattoo;
No more on Life's parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few.
On fame's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents to spread,
And glory guards, with solemn round
The bivouac of the dead.

No rumor of the foe's advance
Now swells upon the wind;
Nor troubled thought at midnight haunts
Of loved ones left behind;
No vision of the morrow's strife
The warrior's dreams alarms;
No braying horn or screaming fife
At dawn shall call to arms.

Their shriveled swords are red with rust,
Their plumed heads are bowed,
Their haughty banner, trailed in dust,
Is now their martial shroud.
And plenteous funeral tears have washed
The red stains from each brow,
And the proud forms, by battle gashed
Are free from anguish now.

The neighing troop, the flashing blade,
The bugle's stirring blast,
The charge, the dreadful cannonade,
The din and shout, are past;
Nor war's wild note, nor glory's peal
Shall thrill with fierce delight
Those breasts that nevermore may feel
The rapture of the fight.

Like the fierce Northern hurricane
That sweeps the great plateau,
Flushed with triumph, yet to gain,
Come down the serried foe,
Who heard the thunder of the fray
Break o'er the field beneath,
Knew the watchword of the day
Was "Victory or death!"

Twas in that hour his stern command
Called to a martyr's grave
The flower of his beloved land,
The nation's flag to save.
By rivers of their father's gore
His first-born laurels grew,
And well he deemed the sons would pour
Their lives for glory too.

For many a mother's breath has swept
O'er Angostura's plain --
And long the pitying sky has wept
Above its moldered slain.
The raven's scream, or eagle's flight,
Or shepherd's pensive lay,
Alone awakes each sullen height
That frowned o'er that dread fray.

Sons of the Dark and Bloody Ground
Ye must not slumber there,
Where stranger steps and tongues resound
Along the heedless air.
Your own proud land's heroic soil
Shall be your fitter grave;
She claims from war his richest spoil --
The ashes of her brave.

Thus 'neath their parent turf they rest,
Far from the gory field,
Borne to a Spartan mother's breast
On many a bloody shield;
The sunshine of their native sky
Smiles sadly on them here,
And kindred eyes and hearts watch by
The heroes sepulcher.

Rest on embalmed and sainted dead!
Dear as the blood ye gave;
No impious footstep here shall tread
The herbage of your grave;
Nor shall your glory be forgot
While Fame her record keeps,
For honor points the hallowed spot
Where valor proudly sleeps.

Yon marble minstrel's voiceless stone
In deathless song shall tell,
When many a vanquished ago has flown,
The story how ye fell;
Nor wreck, nor change, nor winter's blight,
Nor time's remorseless doom,
Can dim one ray of glory's light
That gilds your deathless tomb.
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Old 05-27-2001, 07:24 PM   #2
RudeDawg
20th Level Warrior
 

Join Date: April 9, 2001
Location: Dallas, Tx, USA
Age: 55
Posts: 2,830
Thank you, Saz, for the touching poem.

And, THANK YOU, all who have fought for freedom, everywhere.

------------------

The RudeDawg
Known in these Forgotten Realms as Perin LightEyes
and my girlfriends, Pamila and Pfil
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Old 05-27-2001, 08:08 PM   #3
Sir Taliesin
Silver Dragon
 

Join Date: March 4, 2001
Location: Knoxville, TN USA
Age: 60
Posts: 1,641
Amen!

------------------
Sir Taliesin



If they take my gun can I still use my Axe?
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Old 05-27-2001, 08:43 PM   #4
Lady Avalon
Emerald Dragon
 

Join Date: March 2, 2001
Location: Tennessee, U.S.A.
Age: 74
Posts: 996
Thank you Saz. Enjoyed reading that wonderful poem.

------------------


Seeker of Truth
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Old 05-27-2001, 09:03 PM   #5
Grand-Ranger
Galvatron
 

Join Date: March 29, 2001
Location: Everywhere I wanna go its already where I am,cause I am already there
Posts: 2,130
Well said every body

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Old 05-27-2001, 09:32 PM   #6
slackerboy
Gold Dragon
 

Join Date: March 5, 2001
Location: smyrna, tn, usa
Age: 46
Posts: 2,506
and to round out the members from Tennessee:
thanks sazerac, that was wonderful

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