We're the prairie pilgrim crew, Sailin' with the sun, Lookin' West to meet a great reward, Trailin' toward a land that's new Like our fathers done, Trustin' in our rifles and the Lord. A-ll set! Go ahead! Out the prairie trail. Leave the woods and settlements behind. Trail and settle, work and fight Till the rollin' earth is white,— That's the law and gospel of our kind. Desert suns and throats o' dust, But we never stop; Wimmin-folks are knittin' as they ride. We're a breed that, when we must, Fight until we drop, But our work and git-thar is our pride. A-ll set! Go ahead! Up the sandy Platte. Leave the circle smokin' in the dawn, So the comin' hosts will know, 'Mongst the trails of buffalo Where their darin' brother whites have gone. Night so black 'twould blind a fox, Yells and feathered sleet, Aim the best you kin and trust to luck. Arrows whang the wagon box But all hell kaint beat Rifles from Missoury and Kentuck. A-ll set! Go ahead! Leave the dead to sleep Till the desert sees the Judgment Day. Mourn the good boys laid so low, But we'll mourn them on the go— Pawnee! Ogalalla! Cl'ar the way! Far across the glarin' plain See the mountain peaks Glimmer 'long the edge like flecks o' foam. Shove! you oxen, till your chain Stretches out and squeaks; Somewhere out beyond that range is @3Home!@1 A-ll set! Go ahead! Trailin' toward the West Till the sunset's shinin' flag is furled. Ay, our flag's the Western skies, Flag that drew our fathers' eyes, Flag that leads the white man 'round the world. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IRELAND; A SEASIDE PORTRAIT by JOHN JAMES PIATT MONNA INNOMINATA, A SONNET OF SONNETS: 11 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE WANING MOON by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY THE HAYMAKER'S SONG by ALFRED AUSTIN THE VIGIL OF JOSEPH by ELSA BARKER PSALM 117 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE BAB-LOCK-HYTHE by LAURENCE BINYON TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 3. INTO THE REGIONS OF THE SUN by EDWARD CARPENTER |