At the Grave of Abram Hull by Sarah Anne Curzon

Abram Hull was a captain in the United States Infantry, and was killed in the battle of Lundy’s Lane, 25th July, 1814, and interred on the battleground, near to the spot where he fell, with the fallen on both sides.  The battleground was consecrated as a cemetery, and is now kept in order by the Lundy’s Lane Historical Society.

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Headstone of Abraham Hull. Photo by James Lemon on Find a Grave

 

Not that thou wast an enemy do I desire
Thy grave shall be no mound of weeds or mire ;
My country’s enemies are mine, and I would fight
With tireless arm to guard her sacred right.
Not that thou wast an enemy and I forget
The fierce incursion—unforgiven yet.
But that thou wast a mother’s son, I’d keep,
For mother-love, thy bed in thy last sleep.
Lay e’er, my son, in stranger-land a foe,
I would some mother-breast should pity know,
Some kindly hand should smooth, as I do now,
His last long pillow, and upon his brow
Drop gentle tears for one so brave and young,
Nor leave, for enmity, a warrior’s dirge unsung.


Source: The Dominion Illustrated, 17th August 1889

Read about Abraham [Abram] Hull

Read about Sarah Anne Curzon

Read about the Battle of Lundy’s Lane

Read more poems about the War of 1812 in Niagara