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Literary
September 21, 1848
Spirit Of The Age
Woodstock, Windsor County, Vermont
What is this article about?
Poem by J. K. Walker celebrating American soldiers' homeward voyage from Mexico after victories at Contreras, Churubusco, and Chapultepec in the Mexican-American War, expressing patriotism and longing for New England's peaceful homes. Dated August 14, 1848, aboard Ship England.
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OCR Quality
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Good
Full Text
HOMEWARD BOUND.
BY J. K. WALKER.
Victory reigned her shining steeds,
And stayed her trophied car,
That peace might sound with silver trump,
Her jubilee afar.
The hands that raised the stars and stripes
O'er Anahuac's domain,
Beckon them on proudly as they rose,
Unalloyed by a stain.
The good ship onward, onward sped
O'er the waters glad and free,
She bears a band of war-worn men
Home o'er the heaving sea.
How proudly bears her ensign, of oak.
As if she knew they cannot
With laurelled brow and conquering arm
Fresh from the field of fame.
No more Contreras' deep ravine
Shall feel their midnight tread,
Nor Churubusco's sheets of flame
Enshroud the stricken dead.
Chapultepec shall not again
Resound to the charge and say,
As when New England's heroes led,
And fell, that fatal day.
The imperial city's gilded domes
Have faded from the view--
To Aztec gods and gilded anger
We've bid a last adieu.
Nor sunny climes nor long-lashed eyes
The soldier's heart could win--
He saw, though Elga bloomed in both,
Some devil lurked within.
We're homeward bound: We're homeward
bound!
Blow on, ye favoring gales!
Fly on your pinions, gallant ship!
Give to the wind your sails.
We near the port, near the shore
Fresh comes the freighted air,
Whose tell-tale music rings of hope,
And loved ones gathered there.
New England's hills! New England's hills!
They tower above the deep,
Like sentinels who guard the land,
And Freedom's treasures keep.
But ah! 'mid valley and dancing streams
Swept by the sweet land breeze,
What pleasant scenery, what happy homes,
The weary soldier sees!
The church-spire and the old elm tree,
So well known by the dear--
He sees them all, 'mid fields that gleam
With summer's golden store.
With steeples high thy meeting house,
The arbors by the way--
True sentinels of peace, that guard
New England's brave and gay.
Then onward, onward spread the ship
The soldier homeward turns;
The fire that glowed amid the fray,
Still in his bosom burns.
'Tis chastened by a softer light,
Which kindles to a flame
As now he hails New England's hills,
And speaks her glorious name.
Ship England, at sea, August 14, 1848.
BY J. K. WALKER.
Victory reigned her shining steeds,
And stayed her trophied car,
That peace might sound with silver trump,
Her jubilee afar.
The hands that raised the stars and stripes
O'er Anahuac's domain,
Beckon them on proudly as they rose,
Unalloyed by a stain.
The good ship onward, onward sped
O'er the waters glad and free,
She bears a band of war-worn men
Home o'er the heaving sea.
How proudly bears her ensign, of oak.
As if she knew they cannot
With laurelled brow and conquering arm
Fresh from the field of fame.
No more Contreras' deep ravine
Shall feel their midnight tread,
Nor Churubusco's sheets of flame
Enshroud the stricken dead.
Chapultepec shall not again
Resound to the charge and say,
As when New England's heroes led,
And fell, that fatal day.
The imperial city's gilded domes
Have faded from the view--
To Aztec gods and gilded anger
We've bid a last adieu.
Nor sunny climes nor long-lashed eyes
The soldier's heart could win--
He saw, though Elga bloomed in both,
Some devil lurked within.
We're homeward bound: We're homeward
bound!
Blow on, ye favoring gales!
Fly on your pinions, gallant ship!
Give to the wind your sails.
We near the port, near the shore
Fresh comes the freighted air,
Whose tell-tale music rings of hope,
And loved ones gathered there.
New England's hills! New England's hills!
They tower above the deep,
Like sentinels who guard the land,
And Freedom's treasures keep.
But ah! 'mid valley and dancing streams
Swept by the sweet land breeze,
What pleasant scenery, what happy homes,
The weary soldier sees!
The church-spire and the old elm tree,
So well known by the dear--
He sees them all, 'mid fields that gleam
With summer's golden store.
With steeples high thy meeting house,
The arbors by the way--
True sentinels of peace, that guard
New England's brave and gay.
Then onward, onward spread the ship
The soldier homeward turns;
The fire that glowed amid the fray,
Still in his bosom burns.
'Tis chastened by a softer light,
Which kindles to a flame
As now he hails New England's hills,
And speaks her glorious name.
Ship England, at sea, August 14, 1848.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
What themes does it cover?
Patriotism
War Peace
Liberty Freedom
What keywords are associated?
Homeward Bound
Mexican War
Soldiers Return
New England
Victory
Patriotism
Peace
What entities or persons were involved?
By J. K. Walker.
Literary Details
Title
Homeward Bound.
Author
By J. K. Walker.
Subject
Return Of Soldiers From The Mexican War
Key Lines
We're Homeward Bound: We're Homeward Bound!
Blow On, Ye Favoring Gales!
Fly On Your Pinions, Gallant Ship!
Give To The Wind Your Sails.
New England's Hills! New England's Hills!
They Tower Above The Deep,
Like Sentinels Who Guard The Land,
And Freedom's Treasures Keep.
No More Contreras' Deep Ravine
Shall Feel Their Midnight Tread,
Nor Churubusco's Sheets Of Flame
Enshroud The Stricken Dead.
The Imperial City's Gilded Domes
Have Faded From The View
To Aztec Gods And Gilded Anger
We've Bid A Last Adieu.