Poems (Kennedy)/Clancy at Vimy Ridge
CLANCY AT VIMY RIDGE
(W. C. Clancy, a Texas lad who had enlisted with the Canadians, on learning that the United States had declared war on Germany tied a flag to his bayonet and charged up Vimy Ridge with his command. He fell, wounded, but not fatally.)
THEY charged the foe up Vimy Ridge
That sun-scorched day,
And though the flag of France flew free
Where all the battling hosts could see,
Yet up the reddening slope of death
Old Glory led the way.
That sun-scorched day,
And though the flag of France flew free
Where all the battling hosts could see,
Yet up the reddening slope of death
Old Glory led the way.
A Texas lad heard our decree:
"We fight with France."
"Then this leads in the van," he cried,
And to his bayonet's point he tied
The Stars and Stripes, as knight of old
Might wreathe his lance.
"We fight with France."
"Then this leads in the van," he cried,
And to his bayonet's point he tied
The Stars and Stripes, as knight of old
Might wreathe his lance.
And up the slippery slope he sprang—
No stay or stop,
Though foeman's shells rained thick and fast
And all of hell was in the blast
And he was blind with wounds and blood
He reached the top!
No stay or stop,
Though foeman's shells rained thick and fast
And all of hell was in the blast
And he was blind with wounds and blood
He reached the top!
His comrades cheered; but higher yet,
Above the shell-fire's glow,
There watched, as from Fame's sentry post,
Another band—that splendid host
That held, on Texas' deathless day,
The Alamo!
Above the shell-fire's glow,
There watched, as from Fame's sentry post,
Another band—that splendid host
That held, on Texas' deathless day,
The Alamo!
They crowded from the vast Unknown
Heroes of long told story—
To witness where the war gods strive,
How Texas Clancy kept alive
The flame of Texas' glory!
Heroes of long told story—
To witness where the war gods strive,
How Texas Clancy kept alive
The flame of Texas' glory!