Virginia Lucas Poetry Scrapbook

"Indian Death Song" by Anne Hunter

Indian Death Song

The sun sets in night, and the stars shun the day;    
But glory remains when their light fades away.    
Begin, ye tormentors, your threats are in vain,    
For the son of Alknomook will never complain.    

Remember the arrows he shot from his bow;            
Remember your chiefs by his hatchet laid low!    
Why so slow? do you wait ‘till I shrink from the pain?    
No! the son of Alknomook shall never complain.    

Remember the wood where in ambush we lay,    
And the scalps which we bore from your nation away.           
Now the flame rises fast, you exult in my pain,    
But the son of Alknomook can never complain.    

I go to the land where my father is gone;    
His ghost shall rejoice at the fame of his son.    
Death comes like a friend to release me from pain;            
And thy son, O Alknomook! has scorned to complain.

Anne Hunter
Born in Scotland 1742

Biography of Anne Home Hunter
Explication of "Indian Death Song"
A Formal Description of "Indian Death Song"

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