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Monday, July 4, 2011

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

Please be safe and enjoy your Independence Day!

"The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him." Exodus 15:2
The Charge Of The Light Brigade

by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Memorializing Events in the Battle of Balaclava, October 25, 1854
Written 1854


Half a league half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred:
'Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns' he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

'Forward, the Light Brigade!'
Was there a man dismay'd ?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Some one had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do & die,
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd & thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.

Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army while
All the world wonder'd:
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right thro' the line they broke;
Cossack & Russian
Reel'd from the sabre-stroke,
Shatter'd & sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse & hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.

When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder'd.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!
 


Note: This poem, including punctuation, is reproduced from a scan of the poem written out by Tennyson in his own hand in 1864. The scan was made available online by the University of Virginia.

6 comments:

NanaDiana said...

I think this another one of the poems I heard as a youngster. I think it is part of the book The Best Loved Poems of the American People. Happy 4th...and yes..we all know where our TRUE freedom comes from! xo Diaan

Kim B said...

Happy 4th to you! Thanks for coming by my blog. I am so glad you did. Thanks for sharing the poems...going to read more on your blog :) Kim xx

Linda Stubbs said...

We had such a wonderful 4th........thank you for your prayers!!!!!!!! You are such a precious friend and yes I will be praying for you and your son's cleaning project!!!!!!!!!!!! Fun times!

Hugs to you sweetie friend, Linda

Unknown said...

Hi there, I love your blog, so soft and pretty..the poems were lovely...
thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting on the post..
blessings,
glenda

Intense Guy said...

Hope every one is safe and enjoyed their Fourth of July.

Wartime poetry is so bleak - even if it is inspired...

Unknown said...

Hi Anne!
Thanks so much for visiting with me and stopping by and leaving such sweet comments!
Hope you have a great week!
Be Blessed!
Lorena