Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FORT TRYON, by ARTHUR GUITERMAN Poet's Biography First Line: Again there's a golden haze Last Line: Rides alone in a peaceful sky! Subject(s): Death; New York City - Revolutionary Period; Dead, The | ||||||||
AGAIN there's a golden haze On the shadow of Hudson glades; Again are the leaves ablaze On the breast of the Palisades; Again from the loft of the wind-swept stair We watch how the sea-gulls fly, And we drink full draughts of the sparkling air From the deep blue cup of sky. Look south where the ocean rills, Look east to the dancing Sound, Look north to the swelling hills And the vales of the Neutral Ground! From the Mart of the Sea where the millions toil To the heights in the farthest ken There is never a rood of the sacred soil But was bought with the blood of men. The red that the woodland shows, The swell of the city's hum, Seem the garb of advancing foes And the roll of a phantom drum; The glimmer that leaps to the parapet As we look toward the Northern Town Is the shimmer of helmet and bayonet As the Hessian troops come down. Once more swing the hostile boats In the eddies of Haarlem Kill, While the Cross of the Briton floats On the ramparts of Laurel Hill; And the grass-mantled battlements wake again To the whir of the musket-ball And the shouts of the Maryland Riflemen As they close with the hosts of Rahl! What need that defeat be cloaked? They lost; but was theirs the blame Who fought till their rifles choked With the reek of the darted flame? And the meed of their deaths, of their woes and scars Is a boon such alone could buy; See! the stainless Flag of the Clustered Stars Rides alone in a peaceful sky! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND |
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