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Poem
September 11, 1861
The Jasper Weekly Courier
Jasper, Dubois County, Indiana
What is this article about?
A soldier bids farewell to his beloved Laura before heading to war, urging her not to 'secede' from him amid temptations, using Civil War secession as a pun for fidelity. Humorous advice against suitors and distractions.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Laura, Laura, Don't Secede."
Kiss me, Laura, ere I go
Arm'd and drill'd to meet the foe:
Gun in hand, and on my back
A sixteen pounder-haver sack.
I go; my country calls—adieu!
To both, my darling girl, be true;
And come success, come scathe or need,
Laura, Laura, don't secede.
When on the tented field, perhaps,
With rations short, and shorter naps,
We wheel, present, advance, retreat,
Thou'lt have, O heavens! at thy feet
Some one persuasively present
Himself and an establishment;
Laura, no such trifler heed!
Though he glitter, don't secede.
Cling unto thy mother, dear;
Let no "Home Guards" come anear,
Dancing gewgaws 'tore thy eyes,
Making light of household ties,
Prating of thy woman's rights,
Gallanting thee about nights,
Lest the ruse should prove a weed
Burely crimsoned, don't secede.
Good-bye, Laura!
No regrets
If from balls or bayonets,
From "brulis and battles"—(bullets, I mean
For deadlier is the soup tureen,
When badly seasoned, than the roar
Of the loudest cannon that can roar)—
Safe delivered, swiftly I
Back to home and thee will fly.
United, then, in words and deed,
Laura, dear, we'll both secede.
Kiss me, Laura, ere I go
Arm'd and drill'd to meet the foe:
Gun in hand, and on my back
A sixteen pounder-haver sack.
I go; my country calls—adieu!
To both, my darling girl, be true;
And come success, come scathe or need,
Laura, Laura, don't secede.
When on the tented field, perhaps,
With rations short, and shorter naps,
We wheel, present, advance, retreat,
Thou'lt have, O heavens! at thy feet
Some one persuasively present
Himself and an establishment;
Laura, no such trifler heed!
Though he glitter, don't secede.
Cling unto thy mother, dear;
Let no "Home Guards" come anear,
Dancing gewgaws 'tore thy eyes,
Making light of household ties,
Prating of thy woman's rights,
Gallanting thee about nights,
Lest the ruse should prove a weed
Burely crimsoned, don't secede.
Good-bye, Laura!
No regrets
If from balls or bayonets,
From "brulis and battles"—(bullets, I mean
For deadlier is the soup tureen,
When badly seasoned, than the roar
Of the loudest cannon that can roar)—
Safe delivered, swiftly I
Back to home and thee will fly.
United, then, in words and deed,
Laura, dear, we'll both secede.
What sub-type of article is it?
Song
Ballad
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Political
Love Courtship
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Civil War
Secession Pun
Soldier Farewell
Laura
Fidelity
Home Guards
Woman's Rights
Poem Details
Title
Laura, Laura, Don't Secede.
Subject
Soldier's Farewell To Laura During Civil War
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains With Refrain
Key Lines
Laura, Laura, Don't Secede.
I Go; My Country Calls—Adieu!
To Both, My Darling Girl, Be True;
From "Brulis And Battles"—(Bullets, I Mean
For Deadlier Is The Soup Tureen,
United, Then, In Words And Deed,
Laura, Dear, We'll Both Secede.