Classic Poem

Triple triumph to thy spears,
Virginia!
Daughter of the cavaliers,
Virginia!
Let the timbrel and the dance
Tell of thine anointed lance,
Tell of thy deliverance,
Virginia!

On the shore and by the sea,
Virginia!
Thou hast triumphed gloriously,
Virginia!
Loftier head of haughtier foe,
Laid in dust of battle low,
Never decked thy saddle-bow,
Virginia!

Awful through thy blinding tears,
Virginia!
Blazed the light of buried years,
Virginia!
Spirits of the mighty dead
Followed still thy battle tread,
Followed where thy falchion led,
Virginia!

Heart to heart, they smote again,
Virginia!
The savage and the Saracen,
Virginia!
Soul to soul, as son and sire,
Sword of wrath and heart of fire,
Swept to vengeance swift and dire,
Virginia!

Mailed in thy immortal wrong,
Virginia!
Let thy sorrows make thee strong,
Virginia!
Clothe thee, quarterdeck to keel,
Harness thee from head to heel,
Massive oak and sheeted steel,
Virginia!

Onward yet, thou heart of gold,
Virginia!
First in freedom's fight of old,
Virginia!
Forward yet! the grace that flings
The heart to death above a king's
Shall follow where thy bugle sings,