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San Jacinto Day
Know you of San Jacinto, and the channel bank full and wide, Where pass deep-laden freighters for the world's far other side? Know you of glad groups camping where liveoak branches spread, And the blossom-spangled uplands, and the blue skies overhead, And the mockingbird whose song comes down out of a live oak tree As sweet as the hallowed memories of heroes of used-to-be ? And know you the granite markers where the little children play, And the warm sunshine and sweetness and peace of an April day?
Can you wipe the peace and sweetness from scenes where the blossoms sway And see it alive and throbbing with shades of the yesterday? See cohorts of Santa Anna fresh come from the Alamo, Red-handed from Goliad, where they slaughtered a vanquished foe, The thousands at their siesta lie shading their sleep-closed eyes, Despising their few grim foemen, unguarded against surprise, All arrogant in their numbers, all sprawled at their midday ease, Where the cool breeze stirs the blossoms and whispers among the trees?
And then in an eye's swift twinkling, and then in a sudden breath, The rush and the roar of battle! The terror of sudden death! The stumbling from sleep to grapple against a resistless foe! And hear in the charge and tumult: "Remember the Alamo!" And "Remember Goliad!" and the shot! And the clubbed gun's stroke! And the red wounds gushing crimson, the dust and the choking smoke! The panic, and cries for mercy; the slain in the setting sun; Then the sunburned Texans cheering the freedom their strength has won?
When a brave man fights for freedom-what is it may stay him then? His soul is a thing uplifted; his strength is the strength of ten! No foeman may block his progress; and ever the year rolls 'round Our eyes are on San Jacinto, that hallowed and bloody ground Where the Texas flag is waving; and we people the scene anew With the handful of fearless Texans and with Santa Anna's crew; And we dedicate forever our lives to the State we love With the spirit of Houston leading, the Lone Star flag above.
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