Oh! let me weep, while o'er our land
Vile discord strides, with sullen brow,
And drags to earth, with ruthless hand,
The flag no tyrant's power could bow!
Trailed in the dust, inglorious laid,
While one by one her stars retire,
And pride and power pursue the raid,
That bids our liberty expire.
Aye, let me weep! for surely Heaven
In anger views the unholy strife;
And angels weep that thus is riven
The tie that gave to Freedom life.
I can not shout--I will not sing
Loud paeans o'er a severed tie;
And, draped in woe, in tears I fling
Our State's new flag to greet the sky.
I can but choose, while senseless zeal
And lawless hate are clothed with power,
The bitter cup; but still I feel
The sadness of this parting hour!
I know that thousand hearts will bleed
While loud huzzas the welkin rend;
The thoughtless crowd will shout, Secede!
But ah! will this the conflict end?
Oh! let me weep and prostrate lie
Low at the footstool of my God;
I can not breathe one note of joy,
While yet I feel His chastening rod.
Sure, we have as a nation sinned--
Let every heart its folly own,
And sackcloth, as a girdle, bind,
And mourn our glorious Union gone!
Sisters, farewell! You know not half
The pain your pride, injustice, give;
You spurn our cause, and lightly laugh,
And hope no more the wrong shall live.
_New Orleans Delta._