Calliope! Oh fairest muse
Rend thine aid to such as I
A bard unlearned in epic prose
Lo! This man of might
And awesome venture
Doth mine verse dare to scribe
Washington, the iron-hearted
Liberty's force guided he
At Valley Forge he laid weary camp
A hinterland of ice and cold
Oh! how suffering troubled he!
Frost and famine thrust their blows
With swords of ice and lack and snow
But harrower still was how they
Of crimson coat and awful skill
Hath so enrounded troubled Washington!
For at the congress did he appear
In splendor untold and never seen!
Clothed in such princely panoply of war
Behold he in his gallant stance!
Like a soldier prepared for battle!
In awe doth man and beast alike
So look upon this splendid scene!
To him they offered a great command
"Nay", said he, " Nay, not I"
"From me this burden you must take"
"Pray, let another take up sword"
"Let he, not I, engage in war"
But another, no man allowed to go
Washington alone would they send
So out went he on sturdy steed
To win for those their Liberty
Upon besieged Boston did he gaze
"Collect munitions and arms", he said
Such was gathered from far away
From raid and friend and factory
And how the enemy fell back!
How they fell away from Boston!
Much laud this victory gave to him
Laud from friend and yes! from foe
In debate and faction he did not partake
In war alone did he groan and strive
Across the continent he marched his men
Across America did he parade
The array of his army a terrible sight
With drum and banner and starry flag
His course was wild and yet so sure
Alas! At New York rested he and Liberty
When summer heat began to fade
Then did Howe assail that town
Sallied forth did Washington
Yet his bid availed him not
To Jerseys' shore did he flee
Just as doubt cast shadow forlorn
Washington countered on Christmas night
Across the Delaware did he row
Quietly they rowed until at last
The opposed shore did they reach
Met they the enemy in surprise advance!
The gleaming sword of Washington cut!
Cut through and thrust 'till at last
The foe was vanquished and made captive
To Washington the Colonies rallied!
To Washington did the world and all look!
At Valley Forge again I speak
Where Washington so troubled wept
At last in humble care did he
Bend his knee and look to Heaven
"My Lord", he said "Deliver me hence!"
"All about me my foe is camped"
"Yet, O Lord, bless friend and foe"
God remembered Washington's sorry estate
"Lift thy countenance, friend", He said
"Lift thine eyes and see!"
And lo! He saw angelic choir sing
Of a Union so happy and free
And he knew it instantly to be
That Union for which he strove and groaned
So he stood then with revived resolve
And knew God would grant sure victory
With new fury and fire did he now fly
Against man and beast and sharpened blade
The clash of sword and cannon's thunder
Were heard about all the land and country
Musket, serpentine, and cutlass
Met on grim fields of grass and wheat
Hills were made low and men let blood
The battle raged on earth and sea
Americans fought with awful vigor
But one with more than all combined
Washington struck down greater number
Than any of the others on either side
Alas the war came to Yorktown
And the foe surrendered to Washington
At last he of such faith and will
Had now prevailed and made the Union true
