Poem – “CSA”

Do we weep for the heroes who died for us,
Who living were true and tried for us,
And dying sleep side by side for us;
   The Martyr-band
   That hallowed our land
With the blood they shed in a tide for us?

Ah! fearless on many a day for us
They stood in front of the fray for us,
And held the foeman at bay for us;
   And tears should fall
   Fore’er o’er all
Who fell while wearing the gray for us.

How many a glorious name for us,
How many a story of fame for us
They left: Would it not be a blame for us
   If their memories part
   From our land and heart,
And a wrong to them, and shame for us?

No, no, no, they were brave for us,
And bright were the lives they gave for us;
The land they struggled to save for us”
 Will not forget
   Its warriors yet
Who sleep in so many a grave for us.

On many and many a plain for us
Their blood poured down all in vain for us,
Red, rich, and pure, like a rain for us;
   They bleed — we weep,
   We live — they sleep,
“All lost,” the only refrain for us.

But their memories e’er shall remain for us,
And their names, bright names, without stain for us:
The glory they won shall not wane for us,
   In legend and lay
   Our heroes in Gray
Shall forever live over again for us.”

-Fr. Abram Joseph Ryan


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