Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-07-17
POETRY.
BIZ Request.
From the Ohio Watchman.


Like Young's who knew the worth and use OF
time;
Gould ], like Thompson, sketch the fowry
vale,
And to my page transfer the zephyrous gale,
Or rhyme like Burns, in pasquinades and wit
Knew when to aim, and when the mark to hit,
Or like our Barlow, breathe moving strain,
I'd tell the revolution DER again.
My country's heroes on my page should live,
And from my pen fresh laurels should receive.
Sage Franklin should my wise Ulyssus be,
Whose counsels helpedto set his country free
Great Washington should far surpass the host,
OF Grecian Monarchs on the Dardan coast.
Marion, he too, should sit among the great,
Who crush'd the traitors in the southern state
/ would lament poor Scammel's lingering
death,
And blast his murderers with Gorgeous
breath.
Apollo should re-mount his shining car,
And from his fate hapless Andre bear.
Full five and forty years have rolled away
Since Bunker's veterans paved the bloody
way
To independence, which we idolze,
Though purchased e'er l knew its worth to
prize.
But recent conflicts on my memory dwell,
And oft my heart with JOY and sorrow swell;
My lingering fancy still laments the brave,
Whose relcts were denied decent grave.
Let Raisin's waves remurmur still with groans
Tell the sad tale, ye blood besprinklcd stones !;
Ye trees and shrubs, can you the scene de-
scribe,
When patriots fell beneath savage tribe,
Par from their homes, unarmed, and all forlorn,
From their defenceless heads the scalps were
torn:
Deep signs and groans succeed the mangling
knife,
And savage yells were deep amid the strife.
The carnage yet still dreadful and severe,
Through rising flames yon bleeding heads ap-
pear;
Life still entire, their wounds all gaping wide,
The vengeful torch by eager hands is Piled:
Housed in one group, blood, groans, and
screams all blend,
Till with the flames their souls to heaven as.
cend.
But. cease, my Muse, the sympathetic tear;
The welcome news of peace we soon shall
hear.
M'Donough's, Perry's, Jackson's victory,
Compell'd the foe to own Columbia free.
Peace spreads her fostering wings quite DER
our land
Down falls the deadly weapon from each hand !:
The glittering sword and the bright shining
spear,
The smith transforms to the more useful shear
Our frontiers now no tedious vgils keep;
No tawny ruffian dare disturb their sleep,
Forth to his field the husbandman repairs,
To SOW the grain and taste domestic cares.
Soon the full ear hangs o'er the yellow blade,
To furnish export for distant trade;
The merchant ship then hoists whitened sail;
Propitious heaven soon lends the prosperous
gale;
To foreign lands she bears our rich produce,
The staff of life and articles of use.
She drains the Tropics of their spicy stores,
And spreads their dainties on Columbia's
shores.
Since wars ere hush'd, since now no dread
alarms
Compel the rising youth to shine in arms,
What will succeed the patriotic fire
Will nought but blood-shed ardent zeal in.
spire
Shall peace, like stagnant ponds, vile reptiles
breed!
An insect race born just to sting and feed.
Forbid it Heaven; may nobler aims engage;
May we yet see some Franklin of this age.
Shall ancient times boast of desert alone
Is there no Lucian, nor no Cato's son!
Is there no Cincinnatus, at his plough,
With wisdom written on his manly brow'
Arise, ONO, be Columbia's boast,
Though far remote from the old sea-beat coast.
With languid head fair freedom linger'dthere.
With dropping wing she wandered in despair,
With eagle pinion then she took her fight,
Skimm'd DER the vale and gain'd the noun
tain's height;
She cast her eye on this Hyblean plain,
A safe asylum for her infant train
Her upright sons like those in day of yore,
With independence, honorably poor.
Before their strokes the mighty forests bow,
With active hand they guide the wealthy
plough,