Plantation Echoes: A Collection of Original Negro Dialect Poems by Elliott Blaine Henderson - HTML preview

THE GALLANT BLACKS OF SAN JUAN HILL.

Without a tremor or a pause,

Enlisted for their country’s cause,

’Mid shout and song the gallant boys

Charge up the hill of San Juan.

Like war-scarred veterans of old,

Made with patriot ardor bold,

Press they forward towards the goal,

Not a soldier falters.

Blood and carnage everywhere,

Detonations rend the air,

Not for once do they despair,

But press on to conquer.

See them charge with matchless splendor

Heart to heart each one’s defender,

All praise for the part they render,

For them is the victory.

See the starry emblem high;

This they’ll keep or all will die.

Forward! Is their battle cry,

See them still advancing.

Hell of fire ’tis their’s to greet,

Comrades falling at their feet.

Still for them to fight ’tis sweet,

See them still advancing!

See the foe’s ranks try to rally,

Thank God! They’ve made their last tally.

Ne’er again will they forth sally,

Lost their hopes forever!

Another charge! They reach the summit,

And the prize at last they’ve won it,

Fighting ev’ry inch they’ve done it,

Vic’try on their banner.

Columbia, thou hast won the day,

Tribute on the altar lay.

Plaudits to those brave boys pay,

They thy brave defenders.

Heaven swing thy gates a-wide,

Forever in thy walls abide,

Let those who so nobly died,

Be this, their reward.

In the starry firmament,

Thou bright gem of government,

Brightest in the firmament,

Still thy encircling light.

As a beacon and a sign,

To oppressed men ever shine,

Till on this terrestrial ball,

God shall end the reign of all.