Uncle Ned-s Tales: How The Flag Was Saved Poem Rhyme Scheme

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TWAS a dismal winter's evening fast without came down the snow	A
But within the cheerful fire cast a ruddy genial glow	A
O'er our pleasant little parlor that was then my mother's pride	B
There she sat beside the glowing grate my sister by her side	B
And beyond within the shadow in a cosy little nook	C
Uncle Ned and I were sitting and in whispering tones we spoke	D
I was asking for a story he had promised me to tell	E
Of his comrade old Dick Hilton how he fought and how he fell	E
And with eager voice I pressed him till a mighty final cloud	F
Blew he slowly then upon his breast his grisly head he bowed	F
And musing stroked his gray mustache ere he began to speak	G
Then brushed a tear that stole along his bronzed and furrowed cheek	G
'Ah no I will not speak to night of that sad tale ' he cried	B
'Some other time I'll tell you boy about that splendid ride	B
Your words have set me thinking of the many careless years	H
That comrade rode beside me and have caused these bitter tears	I
For I loved him boy for twenty years we galloped rein to rein	J
In peace and war through all that time stanch comrades had we been	K
As boys we rode together when our soldiering first began	L
And in all those years I knew him for a true and trusty man	L
One who never swerved from danger for he knew not how to fear	M
If grim Death arrayed his legions Dick would charge him with a cheer	M
He was happiest in a struggle or a wild and dangerous ride	B
Every inch a trooper was he and he cared for naught beside	B
He was known for many a gallant deed to night I'll tell you one	N
And no braver feat of arms was by a soldier ever done	N
'Twas when we were young and fearless for 'twas in our first campaign	J
When we galloped through the orange groves and fields of sunny Spain	J
Our wary old commander was retiring from the foe	A
Who came pressing close upon us with a proud exulting show	A
We could hear their taunting laughter and within our very sight	O
Did they ride defiant round us ay and dared us to the fight	O
But brave old Picton heeded not but held his backward track	P
And smiling said the day would come to pay the Frenchmen back	P
And come it did one morning long before the break of day	Q
We were standing to our arms all ready for the coming fray	Q
Soon the sun poured down his glory on the hostile lines arrayed	R
And his beams went flashing brightly back from many a burnished blade	R
Soon to change its spotless luster for a reeking crimson stain	J
In some heart then throbbing proudly that will never throb again	S
When that sun has reached his zenith life and pride will then have fled	T
And his beams will mock in splendor o'er the ghastly heaps of dead	T
Oh 'tis sad to think how many but I wander lad I fear	M
And though the moral's good I guess the tale you'd rather hear	U
Well I said that we were ready and the foe was ready too	V
Soon the fight was raging fiercely thick and fast the bullets flew	V
With a bitter hiss of malice as if hungry for the life	W
To be torn from manly bosoms in the maddening heat of strife	W
Distant batteries were thundering pouring grape and shell like rain	J
And the cruel missiles hurtled with their load of death and pain	J
Which they carried like fell demons to the heart of some brigade	R
Where the sudden awful stillness told the havoc they had made	R
Thus the struggle raged till noon and neither side could vantage show	A
Then the tide of battle turned and swept in favor of the foe	A
Fiercer still the cannon thundered wilder screamed the grape and shell	E
Onward pressed the French battalions back the British masses fell	E
Then as on its prey devoted fierce the hungered vulture swoops	X
Swung the foeman's charging squadrons down upon our broken troops	X
Victory hovered o'er their standard on they swept with maddened shout	Y
Spreading death and havoc round them till retreat was changed to rout	Y
'Twas a saddening sight to witness and when Picton saw them fly	Z
Grief and shame were mixed and burning in the old commander's eye	Z
We were riding in his escort close behind him on a height	O
Which the fatal field commanded thence we viewed the growing flight	O
'But my lad I now must tell you something more about that hill	A2
And I'll try to make you see the spot as I can see it still	A2
Bight before us o'er the battle field the fall was sheer and steep	B2
On our left the ground fell sloping in a pleasant grassy sweep	B2
Where the aides went dashing swiftly bearing orders to and fro	A
For by that sloping side alone they reached the plain below	A
On our right now pay attention boy a yawning fissure lay	Q
As if an earthquake's shock had split the mountain's side away	Q
And in the dismal gulf far down we heard the angry roar	C2
Of a foaming mountain torrent that mayhap the cleft had wore	C2
As it rushed for countless ages through its black and secret lair	D2
But no matter how 'twas formed my lad the yawning gulf was there	D2
And from the farther side a stone projected o'er the gorge	E2
'Twas strange to see the massive rock just balanced on the verge	F2
It seemed as if an eagle's weight the ponderous mass of stone	G2
Would topple from its giddy height and send it crashing down	H2
It stretched far o'er the dark abyss but though 'twere footing good	I2
'Twas twenty feet or more from off the side on which we stood	I2
Beyond the cleft a gentle slope went down and joined the plain	J
Now lad back to where we halted and again resume the rein	J
I said our troops were routed Far and near they broke and fled	T
The grape shot tearing through them leaving lanes of mangled dead	T
All order lost they left the fight they threw their arms away	Q
And joined in one wild panic rout ah 'twas a bitter day	Q
	-
'But did I say that all was lost Nay one brave corps stood fast	J2
Determined they would never fly but fight it to the last	J2
They barred the Frenchman from his prey and his whole fury braved	K2
One brief hour could they hold their ground the army might be saved	K2
Fresh troops were hurrying to our aid we saw their glittering head	T
Ah God how those brave hearts were raked by the death shower of lead	T
But stand they did they never flinched nor took one backward stride	B
They sent their bayonets home and then with stubborn courage died	B
But few were left of that brave band when the dread hour had passed	J2
Still faint and few they held their flag above them to the last	J2
But now a cloud of horsemen like a shadowy avalanche	L2
Sweeps down as Picton sees them e'en his cheek is seen to blanch	L2
They were not awed that little band but rallied once again	S
And sent us back a farewell cheer Then burst from reckless men	S
The anguished cry ' God help them ' as we saw the feeble flash	M2
Of their last defiant volley when upon them with a crash	M2
Burst the gleaming lines of riders one by one they disappear	M
And the chargers' hoofs are trampling on the last of that brave square	D2
On swept the squadrons Then we looked where last the band was seen	N2
A scarlet heap was all that marked the place where they had been	K
Still forward spurred the horsemen eager to complete the rout	Y
But our lines had been reformed now and five thousand guns belched out	Y
A reception to the squadrons rank on rank was piled that day	Q
Every bullet hissed out ' Vengeance ' as it whistled on its way	Q
	-
'And now it was with maddened hearts we saw a galling sight	O
A French hussar was riding close beneath us on the right	O
He held a British standard With insulting shout he stood	I2
And waved the flag its heavy folds drooped down with shame and blood	O2
The blood of hearts unconquered 'twas the flag of the stanch corps	C2
That had fought to death beneath it it was heavy with their gore	C2
The foreign dog I see him as he holds the standard down	H2
And makes his charger trample on its colors an	L

John Boyle O'reilly

Uncle Ned-s Tales: How The Flag Was Saved Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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