Your attention, Thomas Rhodes, president of the bank; <br />Coolbaugh Wedon, editor of the Argus; <br />Rev. Peet, pastor of the leading church; <br />A.D. Blood, several times Mayor of Spoon River; <br />And finally all of you, members of the Social Purity Club-- <br />Your attention to Cambronne's dying words, <br />Standing with heroic remnant <br />Of Napoleon's guard on Mount Saint Jean <br />At the battle field of Waterloo, <br />When Maitland, the Englishman, called to them: <br />"Surrender, brave Frenchmen!"-- <br />There at close of day with the battle hopelessly lost, <br />And hordes of men no longer the army <br />Of the great Napoleon <br />Streamed from the field like ragged strips <br />Of thunder clouds in the storm. <br />Well, that Cambronne said to Maitland <br />Ere the English fire made smooth the brow of the hill <br />Against the sinking light of day <br />Say I to you, and all of you, <br />And to you, O world. <br />And I charge you to carve it <br />Upon my stone.<br /><br />Edgar Lee Masters<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/kinsey-keene/
