Poems of American History

United States -- History -- Poetry

The colonies rallied nobly to Boston's support; provisions of
    all sorts were sent over-land to the devoted city; the 1st of
    June, the day on which the Port Bill went into effect, was
    observed as a day of fasting and prayer throughout the country,
    and it became a point of honor with all good patriots to
    refrain from indulgence in "the blasted herb."

THE BLASTED HERB

[1774]

  Rouse every generous, thoughtful mind,
  The rising danger flee,
  If you would lasting freedom find,
  Now then abandon tea.

  Scorn to be bound with golden chains,
  Though they allure the sight;
  Bid them defiance, if they claim
  Our freedom and birthright.

  Shall we our freedom give away,
  And all our comfort place,
  In drinking of outlandish tea,
  Only to please our taste?

  Forbid it Heaven, let us be wise,
  And seek our country's good;
  Nor ever let a thought arise
  That tea should be our food.

  Since we so great a plenty have,
  Of all that's for our health,
  Shall we that blasted herb receive,
  Impoverishing our wealth?

  When we survey the breathless corpse,
  With putrid matter filled,
  For crawling worms a sweet resort,
  By us reputed ill.

  Noxious effluvia sending out
  From its pernicious store,
  Not only from the foaming mouth,
  But every lifeless pore.

  To view the same enrolled in tea,
  Besmeared with such perfumes,
  And then the herb sent o'er the sea,
  To us it tainted comes--

  Some of it tinctured with a filth
  Of carcasses embalmed;
  Taste of this herb, then, if thou wilt!
  Sure me it cannot charm.

  Adieu! away, oh tea! begone!
  Salute our taste no more;
  Though thou art coveted by some,
  Who're destined to be poor.

               MESECH WEARE.

  Fowle's _Gazette_, July 22, 1774.


EPIGRAM

ON THE POOR OF BOSTON BEING EMPLOYED IN PAVING THE STREETS, 1774

  In spite of _Rice_, in spite of _Wheat_,
  Sent for the Boston Poor--to eat:
  In spite of _Brandy_, one would think,
  Sent for the Boston Poor--to drink:
  Poor are the Boston Poor, indeed,
  And needy, tho' there is no Need:
  They cry for Bread; the mighty Ones
  Instead of _Bread_, give only _Stones_.

               Rivington's _New York Gazetteer_, September 2, 1774.


    It was plain that, in this crisis, the colonies must stick
    together, and the proposal for a Continental Congress, first
    made by the Sons of Liberty in New York, was approved by colony
    after colony, and the Congress was finally called to meet at
    Philadelphia, September 1.

THE DAUGHTER'S REBELLION

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

History

Poems of American History

United States -- History -- Poetry

The colonies rallied nobly to Boston's support; provisions of
    all sorts were sent over-land to the devoted city; the 1st of
    June, the day on which the Port Bill went into effect, was
    observed as a day of fasting and prayer throughout the country,
    and it became a point of honor with all good patriots to
    refrain from indulgence in "the blasted herb."

THE BLASTED HERB

[1774]

  Rouse every generous, thoughtful mind,
  The rising danger flee,
  If you would lasting freedom find,
  Now then abandon tea.

  Scorn to be bound with golden chains,
  Though they allure the sight;
  Bid them defiance, if they claim
  Our freedom and birthright.

  Shall we our freedom give away,
  And all our comfort place,
  In drinking of outlandish tea,
  Only to please our taste?

  Forbid it Heaven, let us be wise,
  And seek our country's good;
  Nor ever let a thought arise
  That tea should be our food.

  Since we so great a plenty have,
  Of all that's for our health,
  Shall we that blasted herb receive,
  Impoverishing our wealth?

  When we survey the breathless corpse,
  With putrid matter filled,
  For crawling worms a sweet resort,
  By us reputed ill.

  Noxious effluvia sending out
  From its pernicious store,
  Not only from the foaming mouth,
  But every lifeless pore.

  To view the same enrolled in tea,
  Besmeared with such perfumes,
  And then the herb sent o'er the sea,
  To us it tainted comes--

  Some of it tinctured with a filth
  Of carcasses embalmed;
  Taste of this herb, then, if thou wilt!
  Sure me it cannot charm.

  Adieu! away, oh tea! begone!
  Salute our taste no more;
  Though thou art coveted by some,
  Who're destined to be poor.

               MESECH WEARE.

  Fowle's _Gazette_, July 22, 1774.


EPIGRAM

ON THE POOR OF BOSTON BEING EMPLOYED IN PAVING THE STREETS, 1774

  In spite of _Rice_, in spite of _Wheat_,
  Sent for the Boston Poor--to eat:
  In spite of _Brandy_, one would think,
  Sent for the Boston Poor--to drink:
  Poor are the Boston Poor, indeed,
  And needy, tho' there is no Need:
  They cry for Bread; the mighty Ones
  Instead of _Bread_, give only _Stones_.

               Rivington's _New York Gazetteer_, September 2, 1774.


    It was plain that, in this crisis, the colonies must stick
    together, and the proposal for a Continental Congress, first
    made by the Sons of Liberty in New York, was approved by colony
    after colony, and the Congress was finally called to meet at
    Philadelphia, September 1.

THE DAUGHTER'S REBELLION

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Poems of American History

Poems of American History

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