Three Brothers

three connected by blood three fated to strive three to stem the flood three, of whom one must die together they stood and answer'd the call as one they stood, to country's cry in mind as one man tall in history, to battle they fly to one must death come to one must agony be borne to the last do tears run to the last they rejoiced when all did mourn the one was cast down into the nevermore the one was cut down, forever scarred the last must carry forward the one to bear the standard far in blood he knelt in fire his shadow in the furnace he felt the enemy's pow'r did he weep did he moan did he kneel and submit did he feel the cursed groan the oppressor's power of writ they shed their tears they offered their blood they faced their fears they slogged through mud now I see them and remember now I understand their agony now I feel their pride dismembered now I see what they fought, the larceny they wept and bled they shrieked and cried to war they fed for their land's due pride