Classic Poem

O LD Virginia,
Mother of Statesmen,
Mother of Mighty Captains!
Old Virginia,
Mother of Washington,
Mother of Lee!

1

Blood-red Heart of the Old Dominion,
Giver of son succeeding son,
Heroes of high degree, —
Peace-patricians or battle-peers,
Old Virginia's Cavaliers,
Makers of history!

Patrick Henry was of thee;
Thomas Jefferson was of thee;
Sires of America's Revolution.
Marshall and Madison were of thee;
Seers of America's Constitution.

Old Virginia,
Soul of the Southland's regnant race,
Ever guarding its power and place, —
Old Virginia,
Mother of Statesmen,
Mother of Mighty Captains!

2

Out of far mystery, fresher than morning,
Dispensations of Nature came, —
Lineage gloried,
Heritage storied,
Brilliant as flame consuming flame.

Beauty, compulsion to rapt romance;
Gallantry, heart and form adorning;
Riot and rhythm of radiance
Mocking the lessening night-tide's warning;

Houses of hospitality, —
Every portal and hall and room
Sweet with the bayberry's snuffed perfume,
Bright with conviviality;

Gentilesse, matron at every hearth,
Mingling industry and mirth;
Chivalry, patron of courage, scorning
Breed and deed of plebeian birth.

Old Virginia,
Queen of the Southland's commonweals,
Wearing tradition's illumined seals!
Old Virginia,
Mother of Statesmen,
Mother of Mighty Captains!

3

Thou wert Tyranny's ancient foe,
Spirit of right turned sword and flame.
Staggered and fell before thee low
Minions who fought for the cause of shame.

Independence, — her soul was thine;
Revolution was deep in thee;
Blood for faith was thy marching sign,
All for justice and liberty.

Cambridge to Yorktown, — 'neath stormy sky,
Dear was the triumph thy heroes won,
Counting it glory to live or die
Fighting for freedom with Washington!

Old Virginia,
Head of the Southland's patriot host;
Loyal to duty, thy sacred boast;
Old Virginia,
Mother of Statesmen,
Mother of Mighty Captains!

4

Thou wert never Slavery's friend,
Never Disunion's advocate,
Till caught fast in the swirl of fate,
Terrible, irrestible,
Deaf to Rebellion's distant knell,
Blind to its sure predestined end,
Thou didst join the Sisterhood
Credulous of a delusive good.

Old Virginia, the battle-shaken,
Through Secession's impassioned years,
Worsted, wasted, forlorn, forsaken,
Doomed with the doom of thy Cavaliers.
Sinks the heart as it thinks of thee,
Thee so shorn of thy majesty,

Old Virginia,
Front of the Southland's war-betrayed,
Leading thy heroes with broken blade,
Old Virginia,
Mother of Statesmen,
Mother of Mighty Captains!

5

Old Virginia, the new day comes,
Over forever the roll of drums.

Thou wert Destiny's ministrant,
Slowly achieving God's covenant.

Love and power conjoined redeem
Beauty for ashes beyond hope's dream.

He who clearly discerns the truth,
Hears thee swinging
Back to singing
Days of thy happy youth, —

Youth of thine of the olden time,
Filled with a richer rime and mime;

Sees thy darkened robes again
White through the blood of a million men;

Feels thee leal to thy real innateness,
Vibrant to every grace and greatness;

Calls to thee, and calls to thee,
Chanting the strain of thine ancientry, —

Old Virginia,
Mother of Statesmen,
Mother of Mighty Captains!
Old Virginia,
Mother of Washington,
Mother of Lee!