Antietam

The memorial park was still and cold
where armies once clashed in war,
I visualized the smoky din
and the guns loud crashing roar.

That day in mid September
the bloodiest of them all,
our nation rent by warfare
when twenty three thousand would fall.

Their blood was neither blue nor gray
but bright American red,
flowing from father, son and brother
when all was done and said.

Carnage beyond description
by bridge and road and field,
back and forth that terrible day
as no one side would yield.

Outnumbering Lee by thousands
McClelland lacked resolve
to pursue his advantage forcefully
allowing victory to dissolve.

Inordinate caution on his mind
with reserves kept from the fray,
allowing Lee to hold his own
prolonging the war that day.

The fighting men on both sides
were as good as the country had,
but Lee was an exceptional general
and McClellan was just plain bad.

Those lively valiant soldiers
who walked when day was young,
lay as a carpet of corpses
bid farewell by the setting sun.

Now a general rides a pedestal
sword frozen in his hand,
directing where the blow would fall
the day violence ruled the land.

But victory enough was taken
for honest Abe to see,
and issue the proclamation
that set an entire people free.


by Robert Quinn
all rights reserved