by Whitman · Cluster: War and its Cost · American Civil War · Battlefield
Abstract
An allegory in which the rebellious South lifts a knife against the Mother of All while the loyal West (drest in blue) rushes to her rescue; the Union defended.
Connections
Archetypes: Great Mother Motifs: Swords and Weapons Themes & Concepts: Union, War and its Cost Forms & Genres: Allegory Historical References: American Civil War
Testo integrale / Full text
Cluster: DRUM-TAPS
The noble sire fallen on evil days, I saw with hand uplifted, menacing, brandishing, (Memories of old in abeyance, love and faith in abeyance,) The insane knife toward the Mother of All.
The noble son on sinewy feet advancing, I saw, out of the land of prairies, land of Ohio’s waters and of Indiana, To the rescue the stalwart giant hurry his plenteous offspring, Drest in blue, bearing their trusty rifles on their shoulders.
Then the Mother of All with calm voice speaking, As to you Rebellious, (I seemed to hear her say,) why strive against me, and why seek my life? When you yourself forever provide to defend me? For you provided me Washington—and now these also.