Victory
With darkness cast on fertile lands,
The men took muskets in their hands
And wives took charge of farms and fields.
They hoped for peace and blessed yields.
And then, the King sent forth, by night
Relentless waves of crimson blight
That raided homes and burned the towns,
And struck down all who spurned the Crown.
So many mothers wept for sons
Who fought the Red on countless runs
Yet fell by cannon, fell by sword.
They prayed for merciful reward.
Thus, when their General swore they’d fight
And hold their ground through day and night,
Young Rebels in blue, and blood and snow
Rained Hell upon their scarlet foe.
They fought for things one can’t impart
Yet from such depths of mind and heart.
Thirteen amongst the tyranny,
One Union now, for liberty.
They raised their flag and charged ahead,
They struck and shot and beat the Red
Then forced it back into the sea.
This home of hope, so borne, was free.
And now, when rest gives way to war,
New sentinels preserve our shores.
Citizens they, of blue and green:
Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine.
So charged and like our fathers then,
Our freedoms they protect again.
With strength and courage, so they stand
On watch about this sacred land.
They’ll fight for it, if called to arms,
And win for it, when called to arms.
Though the Union’s sanctity we mind,
The path to victory they find.
Jonathan Graver is a retired federal agent, war veteran, and poet. He has been previously published in The Military Review.
I recall the 200th anniversary when I made and painted a models of an English soldier and a rebel soldier (Airfix was the company) and ruing a growing Empire’s loss.
I’ve grown up a bit since then.
Thanks for your fine poem Jonathan, written in the stirring spirit of the 250th anniversary.
Paul, thank you! – JG
Johnathan, I find this a stirring poem so fitting for our 250th anniversary with great depictions of the past and readiness to preserve our Union from all foes, foreign and domestic. This is a classic that must preserved for future generations.
Roy, I am honored and humbled. Thank you. – JG
Enjoyed this one and looking forward to reading even more content JG!
Jason, thank you for your kind words. – JG
Jonathan, you wave the red, white, and blue well in this stirring patriotic lyric. The colors appear symbolic, among which we can read blue in its old significance of “conservative,” since the first Americans were convinced they were simply holding to the traditional and reasonable rights of Englishmen–at a time rationally demanding independence from the mother country. I really like the sweep of time you put into the poem, quickly bringing it down to the present–and paying tribute to uniformed men and women now in service. Your conclusion, with the “if” and “when” clauses, looks confidently forward to future victory. Thank you for your service and this poem touching upon it!