A Death-Sonnet for Custer

 

"From Far Dakota's Cañons" was first published as "A Death Sonnet for Custer" in the New York Tribune, 10 July 1876, two weeks after General George Armstrong Custer's death. Walt Whitman received ten dollars for the poem.

 The sonnet later appeared as “From Far Dakota's Cañons” in Whitman’s monumental work, Leaves of Grass.

I.

From far Montana's cañons,

Lands of the wild ravine, the dusky Sioux, the lone-

some stretch, the silence,

Haply, to-day, a mournful wail—haply, a trumpet

note for heroes.

 

II.

The battle-bulletin,

The Indian ambuscade—the slaughter and environ-

ment

The cavalry companies fighting to the last—in stern-

est, coolest, heroism.

The fall of Custer, and all his officers and men.

 

III.

Continues yet the old, old legend of our race!

The loftiest of life upheld by death!

The ancient banner perfectly maintained!

(O lesson opportune—O how I welcome thee!)

As, sitting in dark days,

Lone, sulky, through the time's thick murk looking

in vain for light, for hope,

From unsuspected parts, a fierce and momentary

proof,

(The sun there at the center, though concealed,

Electric life forever at the center,)

Breaks forth, a lightning flash.

 

IV.

Thou of sunny, flowing hair, in battle,

I erewhile saw, with erect head, pressing ever in

front, bearing a bright sword in thy hand,

Now ending well the splendid fever of thy deeds,

(I bring no dirge for it or thee—I bring a glad, tri-

umphal sonnet;)

There in the far northwest, in struggle, charge, and

saber-smite,

Desperate and glorious—aye, in defeat most desper-

ate, most glorious,

After thy many battles, in which, never yielding up

a gun or a color,

Leaving behind thee a memory sweet to soldiers,

Thou yieldest up thyself.

Custer’s Last Stand: Portraits in Time