»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #43
»
The Battle of the Alamo (repost)
| Open Poetry #43 |
|
The Battle of the Alamo (repost) |
|
|
Gunslinger Senior Member
since 1999-10-09
Posts 901TX, USA 
|
I put my hand upon the stones- It seems to me they cry... “Tell it! Tell the story! Of the cause for which we died”. There is an eerie sense for me- Almost of deja vu- It seems I almost see the place From someone else’s view. And, friend, I cannot stay away- I’ve gone a score of times. And every time nostalgia seems To grip this heart of mine. I look from out the chapel door- No city do I see-- But walls of stone, a wood stockade A river lined by trees. And, yes, I see they’re cottonwoods- In Spanish “alamos”- It’s how the mission got it’s name Or so the legend goes. I walk about the courtyard- And glimpse a figure dim, And belted at his waist, a knife.. Lord help me! but it’s Jim! Bowie, of New Orleans fame- Vidalia sandbar, too- He wed the Veramendi girl... Was it in thirty-two? And who’s that with him? Ramrod straight! A soldiers bearing . too- I think it’s Colonel Travis- With his soldier’s coat of blue. I hear a fiddle playing- A haunting melody.... That fellow came with Crockett, And his band from Tennessee. And then the vision changes- There is tension all around... I hear a Spanish voice outside- And Travis shouting down... “No! We’ll not surrender! Hey, boys, give a yell”! Then he shouted to the gunners “Send our answer with a shell”! He called us all together- And bade us gather round.. Then he drew his army saber Drew a line upon the ground... Said, “We can’t depend on Fannin- And Houston’s far away.. If you love life you’re free to go- But as for me I’ll stay”! And as one man we stepped across- And heard bold Bowie say- “I cannot come across myself,. With help, I’d like to stay”. We carried Bowie’s cot across- For he was sick you see- And none of us would fault him, had He chosen to go free. One hundred eighty three did stay- And only one man chose- To flee the place and save his life His name was Moses Rose. I’ve heard him called a coward- But friend that isn’t true. He was a soldier with no cause- What else was he to do? Thirteen days the siege ensued- At last our ranks grew thin... Twice they charged and blew recall We could not hold again... At last they breached the stockade side Oh, God! They’re in the walls- And tears like rain fall on my cheeks Each time a comrade falls... Ah, me.. I get beside myself- Forgive my foolish passion... It seems I hear the musketry.. The roar of cannon crashing... Thanks for your time, now I must leave But just before I go- I’d like to doff my hat and grieve Here by the Alamo. |
||
| © Copyright 2008 John R. Yaws - All Rights Reserved | |||
Ratleader
since 2003-01-23
Posts 7026Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass |
There's got to be a place where this rendering of the old hero-tale can be published. It's well worthy of that, and I hope it happens. I can't think of the Alamo without remembering the time I got myself in trouble with the Daughters Of Texas.....seems I was touring that particular wing of Valhalla when, somewhere between Old Betsy and a wall with all too many bullet pocks in it, I had a vision of that day and laughed out loud right there in the Alamo. The trouble was, I'd pictured Congressman Crockett, defending someone else's liberty to the death with his privately-owned firearm, shoulder-to-shoulder with Ted Kennedy and Barney Frank..... ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº> ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº> ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº> ______________Ratleader______________ |
||
Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
I have read about the battle of the Alamo, but I have never read it as you wrote in this poem. I would love to go and touch the stones in tribute of the men who died. Alison |
||
|
Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Sounds like you were there, John. A very special view of history. Ida |
||
|
Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
Some poems should not disappear too fast - this is one. It's worth the read. Alison |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
