Poems (Taggart)/On Commodore Oliver H. Perry
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ON COMMODOREOLIVER HAZARD PERRY,UPON THE RE-INTERMENT OP HIS REMAINS AT NEWPORT, R. I.1826.
What mean this solemn pomp, this phalanx slow
Moving august, these military bands,
With pausing pace and countenance of woe,
And arms inverted gravely borne along,
Mournful, majestic, without pipe or song?
Moving august, these military bands,
With pausing pace and countenance of woe,
And arms inverted gravely borne along,
Mournful, majestic, without pipe or song?
But list! the silence breaks; a mingled sound
Of notes melodious falls on all around.
The swelling tones flow solemn, and proclaim
A nation's sorrow for the mighty dead;
And lingering on the breeze its accents came,
Harmonious as the breath of spirits fled.
Of notes melodious falls on all around.
The swelling tones flow solemn, and proclaim
A nation's sorrow for the mighty dead;
And lingering on the breeze its accents came,
Harmonious as the breath of spirits fled.
Approaching now behold the storied car,
Bedecked with ensigns of a conquering war;
And nearer view the once effective sword,
The plume and helmet of its lifeless lord;
The valiant warrior, who in battle won
A name of glory that shall never die.
His name immortal through all lands shall fly,
By Triumph borne along far as the rolling sun.
Bedecked with ensigns of a conquering war;
And nearer view the once effective sword,
The plume and helmet of its lifeless lord;
The valiant warrior, who in battle won
A name of glory that shall never die.
His name immortal through all lands shall fly,
By Triumph borne along far as the rolling sun.
Son of his Country! lowly now in death,
The warrior lies, shrouded in sable gloom.
While slow they bear him to a native tomb:
His country called, the dauntless hero sped
Where battle raged, 'mid foul contagion's breath;
He followed with his life where honor led:
The patriot sailor slept among the foreign dead.
The warrior lies, shrouded in sable gloom.
While slow they bear him to a native tomb:
His country called, the dauntless hero sped
Where battle raged, 'mid foul contagion's breath;
He followed with his life where honor led:
The patriot sailor slept among the foreign dead.
A distant land received his latest sigh,
Far from domestic happiness and love;
No kindred tear, no weeping consort nigh,
The solace of affection pure to prove;
But the affection in a Nation's heart,
Swelling, proclaims the valued sacrifice:
Far from domestic happiness and love;
No kindred tear, no weeping consort nigh,
The solace of affection pure to prove;
But the affection in a Nation's heart,
Swelling, proclaims the valued sacrifice:
Though not on glorious battle's vengeful dart,
Fled his great soul away, yet still shall rise
A Nation's tribute, and her Genius mourn,
With memory sad and deep above his honored urn.
Fled his great soul away, yet still shall rise
A Nation's tribute, and her Genius mourn,
With memory sad and deep above his honored urn.
'Mid signs unwonted of a heartfelt grief,
His birth-place pays the last sad honors true.
Slowly they bear him to the peaceful earth,
Pausing in silence o'er the matchless worth
Of their loved champion and illustrious chief,
Then seal aloud their last renowned adieu.
His birth-place pays the last sad honors true.
Slowly they bear him to the peaceful earth,
Pausing in silence o'er the matchless worth
Of their loved champion and illustrious chief,
Then seal aloud their last renowned adieu.