WASHINGTON BY THE DELAWARE.
Joaquin Miller
he snow was red with patriot blood. - The proud foe tracked the blood-red snow.
- The flying patriots crossed the flood
- A tattered, shattered band of woe.
- Forlorn each barefoot hero stood.
- With bare head bended low.
- "Let us cross back! Death waits us here:
- Recross or die!" the chieftain said.
- A famished soldier dropped a tear—
- A tear that froze as it was shed:
- For oh, his starving babes were dear—
- They had but this for bread!
- A captain spake: "It cannot be!
- These bleeding men, why, what could they?
- 'Twould be as snowflakes in a sea!"
- The worn chief did not heed or say.
- He set his firm lips silently.
- Then turned aside to pray.
- And as he kneeled and prayed to God,
- God's finger spun the stars in space;
- He spread his banner blue and broad,
- He dashed the dead sun's stripes in place,
- Till war walked heaven fire shod
- And lit the chieftain's face:
- Till every soldier's heart was stirred,
- Till every sword shook in its sheath—
- "Up! up! Face back. But not one word!"
- God's flag above; the ice beneath—
- They crossed so still, they only heard
- The icebergs grind their teeth!
- Ho! Hessians, hirelings at meat
- While praying patriots hunger so!
- Then, bang! Boom! Bang! Death and defeat!
- And blood? Ay, blood upon the snow!
- Yet not the blood of patriotic feet.
- But heart's blood of the foe!
- O ye who hunger and despair!
- O ye who perish for the sun,
- Look up and dare, for God is there;
- And man can do what man has done!
- Think, think of darkling Delaware!
- Think, think of Washington!