‘HYMN OF THE ALAMO’
Reuben M. Pottor
FROM: ‘VOICES OF THE SOUTHWEST-A BOOK OF TEXICAN VERSE’
RISE, MAN THE WALL, OUR CLARION’S BLAST,
NOW SOUNDS IT’S FINAL REVEILLE;
THIS DAWNING MORN MUST BE THE LAST
OUR FATED BAND SHALL EVER SEE.
TO LIFE BUT NOT TO HOPE, FAREWELL!
YON TRUMPETS CLANG, AND CANNON’S PEAL,
AND STORMING SHOUT, AND CLASH OF STEEL,
IS OURS, BUT NOT OUR COUNTRY’S KNELL!
WELCOME TO THE SPARTAN’S DEATH-
TIS NO DESPIRIJG STRIF-
WE FALL!-WE DIE-BUT OUR EXPIRING BREATH
IS FREEDOM’S BREATH OF LIFE!
“HERE ON THIS NEW THERMOPYLAE,
OUR MONUMENT SHALL TOWER ON HIGH,
AND ‘ALAMO’ HEREAFTER BE ON BLOODIER FIELDS THE BATTLE CRY”
THUS TRAVIS FROM THE RAMPART CRIED;
AND WHEN HIS WARRIORS SAW THE FOE
LIKE WHELMING BILLOWS MOVE BELOW,
AT ONCE EACH DAUNTLESS HEART RELIED,
“WELCOME TO THE SPARTAN’S DEATH-
TIS NO DESARING STRIF-
WE FALL!-WE DIE!-BUT OUR EXPIRING BREATH
IS FREEDOM’S BREATH OF LIFE!”
THEY COME-LIKE AUTUMN LEAVES THEY FALL,
YET, HORDES ON HORDES THEY ONWARD RUSH;
WITH GORY TRAMP THEY MOUNT THE WALL
TILL NUMBERS THE DEFENDERS CRUSH-
TILL FALLS THEIR FLAG WHEN NONE REMAIN!
WELL MAY THE RUFFIANS QUAKE TO TELL
HOW TRAVIS AND HIS HUNDRED FELL
AMID A THOUSAND FOEMEN SLAIN!
THEY DIED THE SPARTAN’S DEATH,
BUT NOT IN HOPELESS STRIFE-
LIKE BROTHERS DIED, AND THEIR LAST EXPIRING BREATH
WAS FREEDOM’S BREATH OF LIFE!