Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AND TEXAS HAS GONE DRY!, by WILLIAM A. PHELON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AND TEXAS HAS GONE DRY!, by                    
First Line: Through the mighty lone star empire sounds
Last Line: From louisiana's border to the yellow rio grande!
Subject(s): Temperance; Texas; Prohibition


THROUGH the mighty Lone Star Empire sounds a sad and creaking cry—
"What's the use of living longer, now that Texas has gone dry?"
It's beyond all explanation, it's a curious condition—
Texas, Texas of all places, to turn wholly prohibition!
When the hunting-shirted fighters grimly held the Alamo,
It's dead certain, `twixt their volleys, that they took a nip or so—
When Sam Houston led his fighters right through Santa Anna's camp,
Flasks and horns, well-primed with red stuff made the evening gayly damp!
At the fight of Palo Alto, Taylor growled: "Supplies are short—
When you get the grape-shot started, bring along another quart!"
When the Rangers, matchless centaurs, rode along the border-line,
Counted they, with their munitions, bourbon, rye and Spanish wine—
Not a thought of stopping liquor—not a chance to feel a drouth
From the Llano Estacado to the Colorado's mouth—
When the cowboys fought Comanches, on the vast and grassy plains,
Do you think they wet their whistles in the scanty summer rains?
And the rattlesnakes of Texas! Never were they known to kill
When the victim had good whisky, and could drink his utter fill!
Oh, those days, when SUCH was Texas—when the best was like the worst,
When men fought, and herded cattle—and assuaged a steady thirst!

Now, what IS the use of living? No more whisky, beer or brandy
From Louisiana's border to the yellow Rio Grande!





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