Famous Squadron Poems by Famous Poets

These are examples of famous Squadron poems written by some of the greatest and most-well-known modern and classical poets. PoetrySoup is a great educational poetry resource of famous squadron poems. These examples illustrate what a famous squadron poem looks like and its form, scheme, or style (where appropriate).

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80. The Jolly Beggars: A Cantata

...’ve travell’d round all Christian ground
 In this my occupation;
I’ve taen the gold, an’ been enrolled
 In many a noble squadron;
But vain they search’d when off I march’d
 To go an’ clout the cauldron.
 I’ve taen the gold, &c.


Despise that shrimp, that wither’d imp,
 With a’ his noise an’ cap’rin;
An’ take a share with those that bear
 The budget and the apron!
And by that stowp! my faith an’ houp,
 And by that dear Kilbaigie, 2
If e’er ye want, or meet wi’ scant,
 May I n...Read more of this...
by Burns, Robert


Eviradnus

...
 The grades confronting—one on either hand. 
 While in advance beyond, with haughty head— 
 As if commander of this squadron dread— 
 All waiting signal of the Judgment Day, 
 In stone was seen in olden sculptors' way 
 Charlemagne the King, who on the earth had found 
 Only twelve knights to grace his Table Round. 
 
 The crests were an assembly of strange things, 
 Of horrors such as nightmare only brings. 
 Asps, and spread eagles without beak or feet, 
 Siren...Read more of this...
by Hugo, Victor

For Australia

...White! 

"Get the people – no matter how," that is the way they rave, 
Could a million paupers aid us now, or a tinpot squadron save? 
The "loyal" drivel, the blatant boast are as shames that used to be – 
Our fight shall be a fight for the coast, with the future for the sea! 

We must turn our face to the only track that will take us through the worst – 
Cable to charter that we lack, guns and cartridges first, 
New machines that will make machines till our factories are co...Read more of this...
by Lawson, Henry

Last Instructions to a Painter

...
In loyal haste they left young wives in bed, 
And Denham these by one consent did head. 
Of the old courtiers, next a squadron came, 
That sold their master, led by Ashburnham. 
To them succeeds a desipicable rout, 
But know the word and well could face about; 
Expectants pale, with hopes of spoil allured, 
Though yet but pioneers, and led by Stew'rd. 
Then damning cowards ranged the vocal plain, 
Wood these command, the Knight of the Horn and Cane. 
Still his hook-shoulder...Read more of this...
by Marvell, Andrew

Mazeppa

...s it the wind those branches stirs?
No, no! from out the forest prance
A trampling troop; I see them come I
In one vast squadron they advance!
I strove to cry - my lips were dumb.
The steeds rush on in plunging pride;
But where are they the reins to guide?
A thousand horse - and none to ride!
With flowing tail, and flying mane,
Wide nostrils never stretched by pain,
Mouths bloodless to the bit or rein,
And feet that iron never shod,
And flanks unscarred by spur or rod,
A thou...Read more of this...
by Byron, George (Lord)


On Growing Old

...land, nor your hill-land, nor your valleys 
Ever again, nore share the battle yonder 
Where the young knight the broken squadron rallies. 
Only stay quiet while my mind remembers 
The beauty of fire from the beauty of embers. 

Beauty, have pity! for the strong have power, 
The rich their wealth, the beautiful their grace, 
Summer of man its sunlight and its flower. 
Spring-time of man, all April in a face. 
Only, as in the jostling in the Strand, 
Where the mob thrusts, or l...Read more of this...
by Masefield, John

Paradise Lost: Book 01

...barous sons 
Came like a deluge on the South, and spread 
Beneath Gibraltar to the Libyan sands. 
Forthwith, form every squadron and each band, 
The heads and leaders thither haste where stood 
Their great Commander--godlike Shapes, and Forms 
Excelling human; princely Dignities; 
And Powers that erst in Heaven sat on thrones, 
Though on their names in Heavenly records now 
Be no memorial, blotted out and rased 
By their rebellion from the Books of Life. 
Nor had they yet amo...Read more of this...
by Milton, John

Paradise Lost: Book 04

...else dismayed. Now drew they nigh 
The western point, where those half-rounding guards 
Just met, and closing stood in squadron joined, 
A waiting next command. To whom their Chief, 
Gabriel, from the front thus called aloud. 
O friends! I hear the tread of nimble feet 
Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern 
Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade; 
And with them comes a third of regal port, 
But faded splendour wan; who by his gait 
And fierce demeanour seems the Princ...Read more of this...
by Milton, John

Pirate Story

...star? 
Shall it be to Africa, a-steering of the boat, 
To Providence, or Babylon or off to Malabar? 

Hi! but here's a squadron a-rowing on the sea-- 
Cattle on the meadow a-charging with a roar! 
Quick, and we'll escape them, they're as mad as they can be, 
The wicket is the harbour and the garden is the shore....Read more of this...
by Stevenson, Robert Louis

Siege and Conquest of Alhama The

...lhama!

Then the Moors, by this aware, 
That bloody Mars recall'd them there, 
One by one, and two by two, 
To a mighty squadron grew.
Woe is me, Alhama!

Out then spake an aged Moor 
In these words the king before, 
'Wherefore call on us, oh King? 
What may mean this gathering?'
Woe is me, Alhama!

'Friends! ye have, alas! to know 
Of a most disastrous blow; 
That the Christians, stern and bold, 
Have obtain'd Albania's hold.'
Woe is me, Alhama!

Out then spake old Alfaqui, ...Read more of this...
by Byron, George (Lord)

Snowbound a Winter Idyl

...illsides autumn-brown 
She climbed to shake the ripe nuts down, 
Saw where in sheltered cove and bay, 
The ducks' black squadron anchored lay, 
And heard the wild-geese calling loud 
Beneath the gray November cloud. 
Then, haply, with a look more grave, 
And soberer tone, some tale she gave 
From painful Sewel's ancient tome, 
Beloved in every Quaker home, 
Of faith fire-winged by martyrdom, 
Or Chalkley's Journal, old and quaint, -- 
Gentlest of skippers, rare sea-saint! -- ...Read more of this...
by Whittier, John Greenleaf

The Battle of Culloden

...on the right
By Fitz-James's Dragoons and Lord Elcho's Horse Guards, a magnificent sight;
And on the left by the Perth squadron under Lord Strathallan,
A fine body of men, and resolved to fight to a man. 

And there was Pitsligo, and the Prince's body guards under Lord Balmerino,
And the third line was commanded by General Stapleton, a noble hero;
Besides, Lord Ogilvie was in command of the third line or reserve,
Consisting of the Duke of Perth's regiment and Lord Ogilvy's--...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz

The Battle of Sheriffmuir

...d Brigadier Ogilvie,
And the two brothers of Sir Donald Macdonald of Sleat, all in high glee. 

The Marquis of Huntly's squadron of horse was also there;
Likewise the Stirling squadron, carrying the Chevalier's standard, I do declare;
And the Perthshire squadron formed the left wing,
And with their boisterous shouts they made the welkin ring. 

The centre of the second line consisted of eight battalions of infantry,
And three of the Earl of Seaforth's foot, famous for their b...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz

The Cranes Of Ibycus

...es around him, save a swarm
Of cranes, who guide him on his way;
Who from far southern regions warm
Have hither come in squadron gray.

"Thou friendly band, all hail to thee!
Who led'st me safely o'er the sea!
I deem thee as a favoring sign,--
My destiny resembles thine.
Both come from a far distant coast,
Both pray for some kind sheltering place;--
Propitious toward us be the host
Who from the stranger wards disgrace!"

And on he hastes, in joyous wood,
And reaches soon the ...Read more of this...
by Schiller, Friedrich von

The Epic Of The Lion

...n and shout 
 Causing the solemn wood to reel with rout. 
 Terrific was this noise that rolled before; 
 It seemed a squadron; nay, 'twas something more— 
 A whole battalion, sent by that sad king 
 With force of arms his little prince to bring, 
 Together with the lion's bleeding hide. 
 
 Which here was right or wrong? Who can decide? 
 Have beasts or men most claim to live? God wots! 
 He is the unit, we the cipher-dots. 
 Ranged in the order a great hunt should...Read more of this...
by Hugo, Victor

The Funeral of the German Emperor

...rst in the procession was the Emperor's bodyguard,
And his great love for them nothing could it retard;
Then followed a squadron of the hussars with their band,
Playing "Jesus, Thou my Comfort," most solemn and grand.
And to see the procession passing the sightseers tried their best,
Especially when the cavalry hove in sight, riding four abreast;
Men and officers with their swords drawn, a magnificent sight to see
In the dim sun's rays, their burnished swords glinting dimly.
...Read more of this...
by McGonagall, William Topaz

The Lady of the Lake

...ne ear,
          Armor's clang or war-steed champing
     Trump nor pibroch summon here
          Mustering clan or squadron tramping.
     Yet the lark's shrill fife may come
          At the daybreak from the fallow,
     And the bittern sound his drum
          Booming from the sedgy shallow.
     Ruder sounds shall none be near,
     Guards nor warders challenge here,
     Here's no war-steed's neigh and champing,
     Shouting clans or squadrons stamping.'
 ...Read more of this...
by Scott, Sir Walter

The Peace Of Dives

...fled,
To shake the new-sown peoples with insult, doubt, and dread;
 But, for all the sleight he used,
 There was never squadron loosed,
And the brands he flung flew dying and fell dead.

But to Dives came Atlantis and the Captains of the West --
And their hates were nothing weakened nor their angers unrest --
 And they pawned their utmost trade
 For the dry, decreeing blade;
And Dives lent and took of them their best.

Then Satan said to Dives: -- "Declare thou by The Name,
...Read more of this...
by Kipling, Rudyard

The Siege and Conquest of Alhama

...lhama!

Then the Moors, by this aware, 
That bloody Mars recall'd them there, 
One by one, and two by two, 
To a mighty squadron grew.
Woe is me, Alhama!

Out then spake an aged Moor 
In these words the king before, 
'Wherefore call on us, oh King? 
What may mean this gathering?'
Woe is me, Alhama!

'Friends! ye have, alas! to know 
Of a most disastrous blow; 
That the Christians, stern and bold, 
Have obtain'd Alhama's hold.'
Woe is me, Alhama!

Out then spake old Alfaqui, 
...Read more of this...
by Byron, George (Lord)

The Triumph Of Fame

...climb'd the Capitolian steepIn years of yore, along the sacred wayA martial squadron came in long array.In ranges as they moved distinct and bright,On every burganet that met the light,Some name of long renown, distinctly read,O'er each majestic brow a glory shed.Still on the noble pair my eyes I bent,A...Read more of this...
by Petrarch, Francesco

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