I'll tell you how the Sun rose — Congressional Burial Ground

I'll tell you how the Sun rose－¹
A Ribbon at a time－
The Steeples swam in Amethyst－
The news, like Squirrels, ran－
The Hills untied their Bonnets－⁵
The Bobolinks－begun－
Then I said softly to myself－
"That must have been the Sun"!
But how he set－I know not－⁹
There seemed a purple stile
That little Yellow boys and girls
Were climbing all the while－
Till when they reached the other side, ¹³
A Dominie in Gray－
Put gently up the evening Bars－
And led the flock away－

(F.204/J.318)

[1] Sun:: the honor, glory.
[2] Ribbon:: a strip on a uniform to indicate the award of a medal.
[3] Steeples:: steeple shaped ornaments and supreme acts. Amethyst:: purple ribbons or medals, like Badge of Military Merit.
[5] hills, Bonnets:: graves on the hills, and the congressmen lift their hats.
[6] Bobolinks:: birds appearing away from human; the hero is dead and buried.
[10] purple:: dignity, royal.
[11] little, girls:: less brave young students.
[14] Dominie:: their teacher. gray:: in solemn, grief, a hint on the grave.

The National or Congressional Burial Ground, is more imposing. This spot was selected in the year 1807, . . . One of the most beautiful and touching memorials of affection is a marble monument reared to commemorate the virtues of Captain Burdell Ashton Terrett, United States dragoons, who died at Fort Scott, Missouri, March 17, 1845. ─ Morrison's Stranger's Guide to the City of Washington and its Vicinity (1852)