This poem tells the story of a British army's retreat from Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The narrator describes the pipes being played by a lone piper to boost the morale of the retreating soldiers, who are exhausted and demoralized after months of siege. The piper's music serves as a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1858 · Genre: Historical Poetry, War Poetry, Patriotic Poetry