February Twelfth
What means to-day’s red letter,
Distinct from common days?
Marks it some era, better,
Demanding love and praise?
Or some event, blood-reeking,
That leaves a crimson stain,
An Abel’s murder speaking
The fatal crime of Cain?
Ah, yes! Our nation’s martyr
Made this a day apart,
Rewriting Freedom’s charter
With life blood of his heart.
Corruption’s iundation
Had made the record dim,
But, under God, salvation
Was borne to us through him.
One night a dastard, creeping,
From treason’s council hall,
Secure in Satan’s keeping,
Shot forth his treacherous ball.
It smote our glorious leader,
Great ransomer of men,
From whom the mad seceder
Shrunk, shuddering, to his den.
The wailing of a nation,
Rose mournful to the sky,
And white-lipped execration
Called vengeance from on high.
The heavens, that heard our wailing,
Heard not the vengeful ban,
But taught a love unfailing
To crown our foremost man.
Though tender hearts were saddened,
And tears bedewed his tomb,
Though fiery souls were maddened
At fate’s malignant doom,
To see this day, red-lettered,
This fate might envy claim,
While millions rise unfettered
To bless our Lincoln’s name.
- Title
- February Twelfth
- Alternative Title
- What means to-day's red letter
- Creator
-
George Shepard Burleigh
- Bibliographic Citation
- Poems by George and Ruth Burleigh, edited by Mary Louise Brown, 1941, held by Little Compton Historical Society, Box A47.24
- George S. Burleigh Papers, 1825-1902. John Hay Library, Brown University. Large Scrapbook 411; BG
- Date
- Precise date tbd, but after 1865
- Subject
- Abraham Lincoln
- Civil War
- Memorial Poems
- note
- The copy in the Brown edited collection is printed, as if from a newspaper, and signed February 10, but does not indicate the year.

