1.
WIDE o’er th’ Atlantic wave the veil of night,
Had spread its ample shade on Ocean’s breast;
The tropic moon, with full-orb’d radiance bright,
Pierc’d thro’ the shade, the waves in glory drest.
2.
On the bright bosom of the silver’d deep,
Barbados’ palmy shores in silence lay;
Her Sons all lull’d in soft oblivion’s sleep,
And England’s vessels anchor’d in the bay.
3.
While on the decks the watching Seaman stand,
And gaze with pleasure on the lovely scene,
The moon-beams smiling on that flow’ry land,
Th’ expanse of Ocean, and the “blue serene.”
4.
Sudden a hundred fires with crimson light
Eclipse the paler moon’s more soften’d rays,
With fearful splendours burst the veil of night,
And o’er the verdant Isle portentous blaze.
5.
Loud peal’d the bells with warning voice of dread,
The martial drum responsive beats “to arms;”
Each from the bed of ease, impetuous fled;
Each bosom thrilling with unknown alarms.
6.
Soon was the dreadful cause of all reveal’d!
Afric’s mad sons the horrid deed had done,
And hoped, when sleep each white man’s eye had seal’d.
That freedom had been their’s, the victory won.
7.
Insensate fury fill’d each sable breast,
To die, or vanquish, seem’d the negro’s aim;
Thus, while all Nature slept in balmy rest
They fled to arms, they wrapt the Isle in flame,
8.
Throughout the night the red fires blaz’d on high,
The work of savage ruin wildly glar’d;
But when the Sun had ting’d the eastern sky,
Barbados’ Sons for active fight prepar’d.
9.
And Britain’s conq’ring heroes, great in arms,
Who oft had matched a prouder foe than those,
March’d forth to quell these terrible alarms,
Intestine discord, and domestic woes.
10.
Aloft in air th’ insurgent standard wav’d,
And loud the shouts barbarian voices rais’d;
But when the British troops their fury brav’d,
Instant they fled, with coward dread amaz’d.
11.
And e’en the natives of this soft’ning clime,
Unus’d to arms, and all the din of war,
Rous’d into vigour at the awful time,
Raised the bold arm, and scatter’d death afar.
12.
Beneath the burning beam of torrid noon,
These Sons of ease pursued the rebel race,
And to heroic ardour waken’d soon,
Determin’d courage glow’d in e’ery face.
13.
For, oh, what thoughts inspir’d each daring breast,
Their wives and children urg’d their tender claim,
These dear ideas more their souls possest,
Than Life or Glory, Property or Fame.
14.
And England’s Sons, to Duty’s call awake,
Embrac’d the cause with all their native fire,
Soon in the breeze their conq’ring banners shake,
And threaten Rebel Chiefs with carnage dire.
15.
Protected by a great Almighty Hand,
Our troops soon put these savage foes to flight,
And tho’ their numbers blacken’d all the land,
Our smaller force prov’d valour’s matchless might.
(Mary Abel Clinckett)
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Based on Topics: Night Poems, Light Poems, Time Poems, War & Peace Poems, Faces Poems, Fire Poems, Sleep Poems, Success Poems, Sons Poems, Work & Career Poems, Silence PoemsBased on Keywords: insurgent, intestine, unus, conq, full-orb, barbados, glar, ery