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Poem
April 6, 1818
Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
A poem personifying the Forget-me-not flower growing on the Waterloo battlefield, symbolizing remembrance of fallen heroes, their valor, and the grief of orphans and widows. The flower vows to stay as a guardian of the graves.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
From the London Star.
LINES.
On hearing that the plant called the Myosotis Arvensis, or Forget me not, was
growing on the plain of Waterloo, after the battle.
There is a flow'r, whose op'ning bloom,
Peeps softly o'er the hero's grave;
Whose trembling leaf and sweet perfume
Denote the dwelling of the brave.
No urn is there. that little flower
Alone remains their woes to tell;
How oft they bled in battle's hour,
How valor fought, and prudence fell!
Sweet child of spring, thy modest head
Was born to grace some happier spot;
And wilt thou bloom among the dead,
And only say "forget me not?"
"I would not leave this plain of rest
For brighter skies and milder climes;
Here I repose on honor's breast,
Unmov'd by fear, unstain'd by crimes.
At midnight oft the orphan steals
O'er me to pour the sacred tear:
And while his heart with throbbing feels,
He knows his parent's grave is here.
And shall I leave the hero's tomb,
Or mock the orphan's tender woe?
No! stranger, I was born to bloom
Where streams of widow'd sorrow flow."
Guard of the midnight hour, farewell!
Still o'er the slumb'ring warrior wave;
Be mine the sacred task to tell
The charms that smile on glory's grave.
LINES.
On hearing that the plant called the Myosotis Arvensis, or Forget me not, was
growing on the plain of Waterloo, after the battle.
There is a flow'r, whose op'ning bloom,
Peeps softly o'er the hero's grave;
Whose trembling leaf and sweet perfume
Denote the dwelling of the brave.
No urn is there. that little flower
Alone remains their woes to tell;
How oft they bled in battle's hour,
How valor fought, and prudence fell!
Sweet child of spring, thy modest head
Was born to grace some happier spot;
And wilt thou bloom among the dead,
And only say "forget me not?"
"I would not leave this plain of rest
For brighter skies and milder climes;
Here I repose on honor's breast,
Unmov'd by fear, unstain'd by crimes.
At midnight oft the orphan steals
O'er me to pour the sacred tear:
And while his heart with throbbing feels,
He knows his parent's grave is here.
And shall I leave the hero's tomb,
Or mock the orphan's tender woe?
No! stranger, I was born to bloom
Where streams of widow'd sorrow flow."
Guard of the midnight hour, farewell!
Still o'er the slumb'ring warrior wave;
Be mine the sacred task to tell
The charms that smile on glory's grave.
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
Pastoral
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
War Military
Patriotism
What keywords are associated?
Waterloo Battle
Forget Me Not
Hero Grave
Remembrance Flower
Fallen Warriors
Orphan Tears
Widow Sorrow
What entities or persons were involved?
From The London Star.
Poem Details
Title
Lines. On Hearing That The Plant Called The Myosotis Arvensis, Or Forget Me Not, Was Growing On The Plain Of Waterloo, After The Battle.
Author
From The London Star.
Subject
On Hearing That The Plant Called The Myosotis Arvensis, Or Forget Me Not, Was Growing On The Plain Of Waterloo, After The Battle.
Key Lines
There Is A Flow'r, Whose Op'ning Bloom,
Peeps Softly O'er The Hero's Grave;
"I Would Not Leave This Plain Of Rest
For Brighter Skies And Milder Climes;
Guard Of The Midnight Hour, Farewell!