THE STAND

by David G Dickenson

GLIMPSED UPON HIS STURDY MARE
BROUGHT THE SOLDIER'S GAPING STARE
PITCHED ALOFT WITH KINGLY AIR
RODE THE BOLD CRUSADER FAIR

HIGH AND MIGHTY PROUD AND BRASH
CAME THE LONG HAIRED CHARGER STASH
SHINING BOOTS AND BUCKSKIN FAIR
GOLDEN BRAID SEEN EVERYWHERE

"ONWARD" "CHARGE", THE BOOMING VOICE
WAS THE BLOND HAIRED SOLDIER'S CHOICE
FIRST TO KILL THE NATIVE CLAN
THE MORE WE KILL THE MORE WE CAN

ALAS, FOR HIM HE HADN'T KNOWN
THERE IN FRONT IN ARMOUR SEWN
THOUSANDS CAME TO STAND AND FIGHT
AND KILL THE WHITEMAN OUT OF SIGHT

THEN ALOFT ON BIGHORN RIDGE
STOOD SURROUNDED WITH COURAGE
CUSTER STOOD AMONG HIS MEN
TO FIGHT HIS LAST NO MORE AGAIN

REMEMBER WELL THE REDMAN PROUD
WHO LEFT HIS MARK A TORTURED SHROUD
HIS PRIDE TO COLOR HIS NATIVE LAND
THIS ONCE ALMIGHTY WARRIOR BAND