Poems (Bass)/Bunker Hill
THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL.
No bridges stood uniting shore with shore And houses, bounded by the busy stream On either hand, were few; men caught a gleamOf crippled Boston, through whose highways toreThe troops; embarking, on they swiftly bore 'Mid roaring cannon and the awful scream Of shells; poor puppets of a royal schemeTo King Taxation's iron rule restore. The honest sod recoiled from their hot tread,But baffled fury trod with reckless haste Till hemmed about by their own slaughtered deadWhen twice the dizzy charge had been retraced; They found no weakling foe was that aheadAnd shivered at the task which yet they faced.
Above doomed Charlestown bombs were bursting shrill, And flaming steeples pierced the pitying sky As eager feet kept marching, marching byTo where the cheer triumphant sent a thrillAthwart the loyal breast of Bunker Hill. "Aim low and fire!" Well might the red-coats fly Before the "echo" of brave Prescott's cry, A cry that speared them with defeat's cold chill. Though twice Columbia's pulse victorious stirred,Ere twilight could her sable shield prepare, A long derisive "British yell" was heardTo summon forth battalions of despair; When it was only victory deferredTo even lure the "Lion" from his lair.
With muskets clubbed our fathers held the slope Which midnight saw them arming for the fray, And still they strove to keep the foe at bay;Beside the fence they saw their comrades copeWith those who would fore'er the star of hope Eclipse behind the slavery cloud and say:— "Thus Monarchy subdues her rebel prey."Although the fields were red they would not grope But dared the "Glasgow," dared the lance, the gun;And, founders of a nation, boldly sought On Prospect's brow the rest so nobly won,While other lands the blessed tidings caught Of daring deeds by "mere provincials" done,And marveled at the skill with which they fought.