Burlington Free Press

The following beautiful poem, from the pen of Lieut.
Wm. B. Greene, of the U. S. Army, we find in the
"Token" for 1841. It breathes the very soul of martial
poetry, and resembles, in spirit, the celebrated
"Sword Song" of Korner, which once rang through
the German forces, calling them to valiant deeds.

SONG OF ESPOUSAL.

O, bright is a glance from a lady's eye.
And soft is the tint on her rosy cheek,
And sweet are the tones of love's minstrelsy.
When the hopes of the bard in his numbers speaks;
But dearer far dearer, art thou, my bride.
Than the throbbings of love or the measures of hope;
Far brighter thy lash than the glances of pride:
Thy language more melting than bard ever spoke.

Then hail to my Sword! to my own fair bride
To my first, to my last, to my only love!
In the darkness of death shalt thou dwell by my
side,
O my first and my only love.

When the banner shall droop on the broken lance.
And the heart shall beat low to the fleeting breath,
Our loves shall be sung, with a wild measured dance,
Where havoc keeps time to the harpings of death.
The couch of our bridal shall be the damp ground,
With the blue cannon-smoke for a canopy spread.
While the drum with the bugle shall mingle its sound
For a wild serenade to the fair one I wed.

Then hail to my Sword! to my own fair bride!
To my first, to my last, to my only love!
In the darkness of death shalt thou dwell by my
side,
O my first and my only love!