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Poem
August 28, 1839
The North Carolina Standard
Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina
What is this article about?
William Cullen Bryant's 'Seventy-Six' depicts the heroic uprising of American yeomen in response to the call for freedom during the Revolutionary War, focusing on the battle at Concord where blood was first shed for independence.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
POETRY.
SEVENTY-SIX.
BY WM. C. BRYANT.
What heroes from the woodland sprung,
When through the fresh awakened land
The thrilling cry of freedom rung,
And to the works of warfare strung
The yeoman's iron band.
Hills flung the cry to hills around,
And ocean mart replied to mart,
And streams whose springs are yet unfound
Pealed far away the startling sound
That thrilled in every heart.
Then marched the brave from rocky steep,
From mountain river swift and cold;
The borders of the stormy deep,
The vales where gathered waters sleep,
Sent up the strong and bold.
As if the very earth again
Grew quick with God's creating breath,
And, from the sods of grove and glen,
Rose ranks of iron-hearted men
To battle to the death.
The wife, whose babe first smiled that day,
The fair bride of yestereve,
And aged sire and matron gray,
Saw the loved warrior haste away
And deemed it sin to grieve.
Already had the strife begun,
Already blood on Concord's plain
Along the springing grass had run,
Like brooks of summer rain.
The death stain on the April sward
Hallowed to freedom all the shore,
In fragments fell the yoke abhorred—
The footsteps of a foreign lord
Profaned the soil no more.
SEVENTY-SIX.
BY WM. C. BRYANT.
What heroes from the woodland sprung,
When through the fresh awakened land
The thrilling cry of freedom rung,
And to the works of warfare strung
The yeoman's iron band.
Hills flung the cry to hills around,
And ocean mart replied to mart,
And streams whose springs are yet unfound
Pealed far away the startling sound
That thrilled in every heart.
Then marched the brave from rocky steep,
From mountain river swift and cold;
The borders of the stormy deep,
The vales where gathered waters sleep,
Sent up the strong and bold.
As if the very earth again
Grew quick with God's creating breath,
And, from the sods of grove and glen,
Rose ranks of iron-hearted men
To battle to the death.
The wife, whose babe first smiled that day,
The fair bride of yestereve,
And aged sire and matron gray,
Saw the loved warrior haste away
And deemed it sin to grieve.
Already had the strife begun,
Already blood on Concord's plain
Along the springing grass had run,
Like brooks of summer rain.
The death stain on the April sward
Hallowed to freedom all the shore,
In fragments fell the yoke abhorred—
The footsteps of a foreign lord
Profaned the soil no more.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Liberty Independence
Patriotism
War Military
What keywords are associated?
American Revolution
Concord Battle
Freedom Cry
Yeoman Heroes
April Sward
Iron Hearted Men
What entities or persons were involved?
By Wm. C. Bryant.
Poem Details
Title
Seventy Six
Author
By Wm. C. Bryant.
Subject
The Battle Of Concord
Key Lines
What Heroes From The Woodland Sprung,
When Through The Fresh Awakened Land
The Thrilling Cry Of Freedom Rung,
And To The Works Of Warfare Strung
The Yeoman's Iron Band.
Already Had The Strife Begun,
Already Blood On Concord's Plain
Along The Springing Grass Had Run,
Like Brooks Of Summer Rain.
The Death Stain On The April Sward
Hallowed To Freedom All The Shore,
In Fragments Fell The Yoke Abhorred—
The Footsteps Of A Foreign Lord
Profaned The Soil No More.