Poets' Corner.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 206, 16 March 1877, Page 3

Poets' Corner.

THE BATTLE OF AYACHUCHO. Earth's famous fields, how lost, how won. From first time saw the unchanging sun O'er hostile ranks preside, The poet's voice hath given to fameBut Ayachucho's glorious name Still sleeps on Andes' side. Where Condorlcanki's battlement With the- steep tropic sky is blent. The tide of war had roll'd. The Spanish tents along its base Look'd down upon a kindred race, By many wrongs made bold. La Serna from his tent, at morn Counted the Chilian host with scorn— Scorn't were not wise to show ; As condors close their wings, his flanks Drew up their far-distended ranks And swoop'd upon the fee. Strange sight on Ayachucho's plain, Spain smiting down the sons of Spain, The nursling of her breast ! Untaught by Britain's past defeat How freedom guards her last retreat In the unfetter'd West ! The Andes, with their crowns of snow, Crowns crested with the fiery glow Of the volcanic flood ; The condor, sailing stiffly by, The oak trees struggling to the sky Beyond the palm-tree wood — These, Chili, were thy witnesses ! Long may't be till scenes like this Thy mountains see again But if, beneath the glowing line, Such warfare must again be thine, God send thee more such men ! As bend and break before the shower The loaded wheat and scarlet flower, So broke the Spanish host ! As strikes the sail before the squall, I see the Viceroy's standard fall — The day is won and lost ! A day is won that dates anew Thy story, Chili ! thine, P«ru ! And, vast Pacific, thine ! T>j native skill and foreign aid Young Freedom hath securely made A lodgment at the Line ! Of Sucre's skill, O'Connor's aid, Cordova's flashing, ruddy blade, The Chilian muse will boast ; And seldom can the muse essay '1 he story of a nobler day Than that La Serna, lost. The Andean echoes yet shall take The burden from De Saagre's lake Of the heroic lay — And Condorkanki's passes drear Age after age the tale shall hear Of Ayachucho's day. — Thomas Darcif Magee.