Joined the Blues
By John Jerome Rooney (1866-1934) |
 |
|
Says
Stonewall Jackson to "Little Phil": "Phil, have you heard
the news?
Why, our 'Joe' Wheeler � 'Fighting Joe' � has
gone and joined the blues.
"Ay, no mistake � I saw
him come � I heard the oath he took �
And you'll find it
duly entered up in yon great Record Book.
"Yes,
'Phil,' it is a change since then (we give the Lord due
thanks)
When 'Joe' came swooping like a hawk upon your
Sherman's flanks!
"Why, 'Phil,' you knew the trick
yourself � but 'Joe' had all the points �
And we've yet
to hear his horses died of stiff or rusty joints!
"But what of that? � the deed I saw to-day in yonder town
Leads all we did and all 'Joe' did in trooping up and down;
"For, 'Phil,' that oath shall be the heal of many a
bleeding wound,
And many a Southland song shall yet to
that same oath be tuned!
"The oath 'Joe' swore has
done the work of thrice a score of years �
Ay, more than
oath � he swore away mistrust and hate and tears!"
"Yes, yes," says Phil, "he was, indeed, a right good worthy
foe,
And well he knew, in those fierce days, to give us
blow for blow.
"When 'Joe' came round to pay a call �
the commissaries said �
Full many a swearing, grumbling
'Yank' went supperless to bed:
"He seemed to have a
pesky knack � so Sherman used to say �
"Of calling, when
he should by rights be ninety miles away!
"Come,
Stonewall, put your hand in mine, � 'Joe's sworn old
Samuel's oath �
We're never North or South again � he
kissed the Book for both!" |
By
John Jerome Rooney (1866-1934)
Listed March 5, 2013 |
|
Poem Use Permission Request
USA Patriotism! cannot
provide use permission for a poem or an author's email address
if not listed below the poem. Only the author or a legal
representative can grant permission. Try a search engine to find the
author's contact information for a use permission request or if
it is available for public use.
Note: Poems authored in the
1700s and 1800s can be used with reference to the author. |
Comment on this poem |
|
| | |
|
| War and Tragedy Poems | Poem Categories |
|
