Presidents' Day Poems

Table of Contents

1. Our Presidents—A Memory Rhyme

   by Isabel Ambler Gilman

   
   

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   First on the list is Washington, Virginia's proudest name;
   John Adams next, the Federalist, from Massachusetts came;
   Three sons of old Virginia into the White House go—
   'Twas Jefferson, and Madison, and then came James Monroe.
   

   Massachusetts for one term sent Adams called John Q.,
   And Tennessee a Democrat, brave Jackson staunch and true.
   Martin Van Buren of New York, and Harrison we see,
   And Tyler of Virginia, and Polk of Tennessee.
   

   Louisiana Taylor sent; New York Millard Fillmore;
   New Hampshire gave us Franklin Pierce; when his term was o'er
   The keystone state Buchanan sent. War thunders shook the realm
   Abe Lincoln wore a martyr's crown, and Johnson took the helm.
   

   Then U.S. Grant of Illinois who ruled with sword and pen;
   And Hayes, and Garfield who was shot, two noble Buckeye men.
   Chester Arthur from New York, and Grover Cleveland came;
   Ben Harrison served just four years, then Cleveland ruled again.
   

   McKinley—shot at Buffalo—the nation plunged in grief,
   And "Teddy" Roosevelt of New York served seven years as chief.
   Taft of Ohio followed him. Then Woodrow Wilson came—
   New Jersey's learned Democrat; war set the world aflame;
   

   And when the tide of strife and hate its baneful course had run,
   The country went Republican and Warren Harding won.
   No duty would he shirk,—he died while on a western trip;
   Coolidge of Massachusetts then assumed the leadership.
   

2. Log Cabin Boys

   by John Henton Carter

   Log Cabin Boys—here's a few:
   Where'd you get Lincoln?—and, say, who
   Sent you Grant, and Sheridan, too;
   Corwin and Old Tippecanoe;
   General Jackson, who pulled through,
   At New Orleans, the Boy's in Blue
   When all those red-coat British flew?
   And Tecumseh, who led the crew
   That cut the brave old South in two
   And hoisted the old flag anew?
   And Whitelaw Reid and John Hay grew
   Up the same way. The same is true
   Of Garfield the assassin slew.
   And, cracky! there's McKinley—whew!
   Well, these are only just a few
   Log Cabin Boys (but guess they'll do),
   Who helped to pull the country through
   And leave it unimpaired to you.
   

3. Washington

   by Annette Wynne

   First of our great, we bring
   New tributes to your name, and sing
   Songs of remembrance on your day;
   Years cannot ever wear away
   Our thanks to you, nor render less
   Our debt for your great worthiness.
   

4. A Little Boy and a Cherry Tree

   by Annette Wynne

   A little boy and a cherry tree,
   A strong young man who proved to be
   A worker with his brain and hand,
   A soldier for his well-loved land,
   A statesman answering the call
   Of home and country, over all,
   A glorious patriot, noble son,
   A soldier—President—a man!
   Was Washington!
   

5. Washington's Birthday

   "For Freedom outlives the old crowns of the earth,
   And Freedom shall triumph forever,
   And Time must long wait the true song of his birth
   Who sleeps by the beautiful river."
   

   – Hezekiah Butterworth
   Washington's Birthday

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   by Hezekiah Butterworth

   
   

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   The bells of Mount Vernon are ringing to-day,
   And what say their melodious numbers
   To the flag blooming air? List, what do they say?
   "The fame of the hero ne'er slumbers!"
   

   The world's monument stands the Potomac beside,
   And what says the shaft to the river?
   "When the hero has lived for his country, and died,
   Death crowns him a hero forever."
   

   The bards crown the heroes and children rehearse
   The songs that give heroes to story,
   And what say the bards to the children? "No verse
   Can yet measure Washington's glory.
   

   "For Freedom outlives the old crowns of the earth,
   And Freedom shall triumph forever,
   And Time must long wait the true song of his birth
   Who sleeps by the beautiful river."
   

6. O Captain! My Captain!

   by Walt Whitman

   
   

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   O Captain! My Captain! our fearful trip is done;
   The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won;
   The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
   While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:

   But O heart! heart! heart!
   O the bleeding drops of red,
   Where on the deck my Captain lies,
   Fallen cold and dead.

   O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
   Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills;
   For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding;
   For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;

   O captain! dear father!
   This arm beneath your head;
   It is some dream that on the deck,
   You've fallen cold and dead.

   My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
   My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
   The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
   From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;

   Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
   But I, with mournful tread,
   Walk the deck my captain lies,
   Fallen cold and dead.

7. Lincoln

   by Annette Wynne

   A log cabin, rude and rough—
   This was house and home enough
   For one small boy; there in the chimney place
   With glowing face
   The eager young eyes learned to trace
   Staunch old tales of staunch old men;
   In the firelight there and then
   The soul of Lincoln grew—
   And no one knew!
   Only the great and bitter strife
   Of later days brought into life
   Great deeds that blossomed in the gloom
   Of that dim shadowy firelit room.
   

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