Gettysburg Poems - Poems about Gettysburg

Leaves flap in the breeze From the tops of the trees ’Round the battlefield that Rests just below. Hand to hand Sun to sun We pass on the notion That civility in war has never been done. Brothers in arms, Brothers in harm. Slaves to graves, Anger in waves. People in chains, Brandishing pains. Blue...

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“Up men to your posts! Don’t forget today that you are from old Virginia.” – General George Pickett Beneath Gettysburg's sun a merciless blaze Stood Pickett with his face etched with war's haunting gaze. A mind torn asunder and a battlefield worn Ghosts of decisions a burden he'd borne. "Forward, brave souls!" rang Pickett's mournful cry A tale writ in heartbeats...

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Oh Gettysburg, your battle flags lie charred beneath the corps that stormed the blue abyss. A fence of stone has marked the final yard where vanquished legions vanished in the mist. As cannon fire consumed the summer sky, it scorched the winds that scattered each brigade. A final yard, your chronicles decry, had crushed their will to win the great...

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** Several years ago, we bought an old farm house. It was 3 miles down a dirt road beside an old millhouse. It seems this area was involved in a major war fight. Sometimes it would last all the way into the night. The Gettysburg battlefield was north of our lot. Some nights you can...

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My old friend Gettysburg came to visit me tonight. He indicated that he has been troubled about...

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Fields that echoed with the muskets' rattle; Blood of Yanks and Rebs spilt in dire battle; Now serene with murmurs of restless ghosts, Of men who died among the frenzied hosts! Are those the sighs of souls heard with each breeze, As winds stir dancing leaves of ancient trees? Do winter winds shrieking 'bout Round Top Hill, Recall screams of men, their...

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Cannister shots explodes overhead, stripping the leaves from the trees, a rain of jagged steel above… it takes courage not to flee. The generals say we strike the center and the Yankees will run hard, if we break them here the war is won, so we’ve got to make this charge. We all step out, a long gray line, and see what is a-waiting: An...

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In the original Italian form Broad field of battle waged where soldiers died and the Southern flame of independence flared bright. Two kinds of rule then vied to govern torn land. The ancient practice keeping slaves was seen right. Opposed was Declaration's say: all equal! And nation strove to settle issue by fight. The pride of Southern youth fell like the dripping of...

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Lincoln and Gettysburg Haiku Lincoln Memorial Now in Washington D C For us all to see Gettysburg Address That was told at Gettysburg By our President Four score and seven Years ago our President Brought to new nation You complete the rest As you thing that it should be Many years ago James Thomas Horn Retired Veteran and Poet...

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[Note: this poem was inspired by a strange and terrible experience I had at 17 when I first set foot on the battlefield in 1965 after an interview at the college there: physiologically, it was like being mortally wounded. I was an agnostic then and so shrugged it off, but after I had an...

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In Gettysburg, the soldiers fell In shock, in pain, in death, As thousands from the North and South Cried out with their last breath. Their bodies lay in bloody fields, A vista grim and stark; Today, those hills have been restored Into a hallowed park. With monuments and obelisks Commemorating all Who fought and died when barely grown, Sucked in to wartime's thrall. A marker made...

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Unyielding stone, the furniture au naturel, no dress lace tablecloth concealing ants scavenging our picnic lunch. Loathe are we to flick them while they steal our cheese and crackers. Siblings ensconced, diffused canopy of oak umbrellas, searing sun bewitches charming shadows; clover, petals three and sometimes four, meadows pleasant carpets cradling this resolute rock. These stones echo cries reverberating past more than a century's...

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Walk does he not the specter of death, His saith raised high, even he himself has had Enough killing, on the battlefield of Gettysburg, Satan screams, stop sons of men, truly war Is hell on earth. Time's spiritual voices cry out, as the wind Blows through the tall over grow grasses, Of this Pennsylvanian State park. Injured spirits, roam as phantom soldiers, Seeking...

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Row on Row we faced teh dawn of a bright and cloudless sky The command was given-our fate was set-we did not question why We moved through fields of new grown corn-our banners furled with pride Cannons roared-the muskets fired-we were doomed with no place to hide We had followed Bobby Lee for two long years-and tried to serve...

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This sacred soil that once resounded with the musket's rattle, Imbued with mingled blood of Blue and Gray spilt in brutal battle, Now stands serene with only whisperings of the restless ghosts, Of gallant men who sacrificed their all among the frenzied hosts. Are those the sighs of vagabond souls heard with each subtle breeze, As zephyrs rustle the dancing...

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