On The Eve Of Bunker Hill

Bunker Hill Day commemorates the Battle of Bunker Hill,
also known as the Battle of Breed's Hill, which was
 fought on June 17 1775 on the Charlestown Peninsula,
 at Boston Harbor in Massachusetts.

 The Battle of Bunker Hill

June 17, 1775

E. Percy Moran

(1909)

'Twas June on the face of the earth, 

June with the rose's breath,

When life is a gladsome thing, 

and a distant dream is death;

There was a gossip of the birds in the air, 

and the lowing of herds by the wood,

And a sunset gleam in the sky

 that the heart of a man holds good;

Then the nun-like twilight came, 

violet-vestured and still,

And the night's first star outshone afar 

on the eve of Bunker Hill.

There rang a cry through the camp,

with its word upon rousing word;

There was never a faltering foot

in the ranks if those that heard;-

Lads from the Hampshire Hills

and the rich Connecticut vales,

Sons of the old Bay Colony,

from its shores and inland dales;

Swiftly they fell in line;

no fear could their valor chill;

Ah, brave the show as they ranged a-row

on the eve of Bunker Hill.

Then a deep voice lifted a prayer

to God of the brave and the true,

And the heads of men were bare

in the gathering dusk and dew;

The heads of a thousand men

were bowed as the pleading rose,-

Smite Thou, Lord, as of old

Thou smotest Thy people's foes!

Oh, nerve Thy servants' arms

to work with a mighty will!

A hush, and then a loud Amen!

on the eve of Bunker's Hill.

Now they are gone through the night

with never a thought of fame,

Gone to the field of a fight

that shall win them a deathless name;

Some shall never again behold

the set of the sun,

But lie like the Concord slain,

and the slain of Lexington.

Martyrs to Freedom's cause.

Ah, how at their deeds we thrill,

The men who made strong the height

on the eve of  Bunker's Hill.

"On The Eve Of Bunker Hill"

Clinton Scollard

(1860-1932)

American poet and fiction writer