History & Politics

Warren's Address

by John Pierpont 1785–1866

From American War Ballads and Lyrics (1889)

History & Politics

Stand! the ground's your own, my braves!
Will ye give it up to slaves?
Will ye look for greener graves?
Hope ye mercy still?
What's the mercy despots feel?
Hear it in that battle peal!
Read it on yon bristling steel!
Ask it,--ye who will.

Fear ye foes who kill for hire?
Will ye to your homes retire?
Look behind you!--they're afire!
And, before you, see
Who have done it! From the vale
On they come!--and will ye quail?
Leaden rain and iron hail
Let their welcome be!

In the God of battles trust!
Die we may,--and die we must:
But, oh where can dust to dust
Be consign'd so well,
As where Heaven its dews shall shed
On the martyr'd patriot's bed,
And the rocks shall raise their head
Of his deeds to tell?

MLA

Pierpont, John. “Warren's Address.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/pierpont/14/.

Chicago

Pierpont, John. “Warren's Address.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/pierpont/14/.

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