I Was There Poem by John Yaws

There seems to be some deja vu-
As I walk through the street.
Perhaps an eery feeling-
When some landmark, my eyes meet.

As I walk along the River Walk-
And hear it's gentle flow-
I seem to see the Longhorns
Drink...one hundred years ago.

As I catch sight of the chapel
Gleaming in the full moonlight
I recall the Mex'can lances-
And the sabres burnished bright.

I recall the drunkard Bowie-
We all called him Colonel Jim-
And the laughing Tennessean-
And the men he brought with him.

Travis with his soldier pride-
A man for all of that-
The demand for our surrender-
His refusal ringing flat.

He answered with a cannon shot-
And we all gave a shout-
The bugles blew "duellego"
We all know what that's about.

There were thirteen days we held them
Reinforcements never came-
I hear Travis cursing Fannin-
Whose command was slain in shame.

I recall the fatal third time-
When the Mex'cans breached the wall-
And Travis crying, "Rally! "
Just before I saw him fall.

I saw Crockett club his rifle-
Laughing as he stood his ground-
Slew an escort for his passing
Ere the bullets brought him down.

Then the silence quickly settled-
I could hear the Con'quers tread
All around the mission courtyard
Where we Texicans lay dead.

I can feel my eyes start burning-
As I walk across the square
And stand beside the Alamo-
I remember I was there....

I was there in 1836-
And heard the muskets crack
And at times when I am lonely
In the moonlight I go back.