Poems (Kennedy)/La Fayette, We Have Come
"LA FAYETTE, WE HAVE COME!"
(PERSHING AT LA FAYETTE'S TOMB)
AND they are there, O valiant France,
Our bravest and our best,
To hold their unstained shields before
Your torn and bleeding breast.
They went to you, as long ago
You came, a bannered host,
To help us guard the swinging gates
Of our own Freedom-post.
Our bravest and our best,
To hold their unstained shields before
Your torn and bleeding breast.
They went to you, as long ago
You came, a bannered host,
To help us guard the swinging gates
Of our own Freedom-post.
And now the Hun is at your door
In furious serried mass,
They speed your splendid challenge on
And cry: "You shall not pass!"
They'll keep with you the trails of death
Till foemen's guns are dumb;
Their blood shall stain your lilied-sod—
"La Fayette, they have come!"
In furious serried mass,
They speed your splendid challenge on
And cry: "You shall not pass!"
They'll keep with you the trails of death
Till foemen's guns are dumb;
Their blood shall stain your lilied-sod—
"La Fayette, they have come!"