Poems (Carmichael)/The Patriot Dead

by Sarah Elizabeth Carmichael

THE PATRIOT DEAD

No tears for them!—they never knew
 The shrinking, coward pain
Of hearts that know a fetter's weight,
 And beat beneath a chain;
They hallowed with their earliest breath
 The land for which they bled;
Chant honor's paean-note to Death
 Above the patriot dead.

No tears for them!—the lofty-toned!
 The beautiful! the high!
There is no sorrow in the voice
 That summons such to die.
Oh! loop our country's ensign where
 Its starry folds may spread
The glory that they died to guard,
 Above the patriot dead.

No tears for them!—the bright! the brave!
 Weep for the coward life,
That dares not go where honor calls,
 And, shrinking, shuns the strife;
But speak of them with reverent eye,
 Awed voice, and low-bowed head,
And teach your babes 'twere proud to die
 Like them—the patriot dead.