Author: Madison Julius Cawein

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    It's up and out with the bat and owl!
    We ride by night in fair and foul;
    In foul and fair we take the pike,
    And no man knows where our hand shall strike;
    For, gun and pistol, and torch and mask,
    These are our laws let any ask:
    And should one ask, why, tell him then
    That we are the New-Jeans Gentlemen.
    It's up and out with owl and bat!
    Where the road winds back by wood and flat.
    Black clouds are hunting the flying moon
    Let them hunt her down! and midnight soon
    Shall blossom a wilder light, when down
    We gallop and shoot and burn the town.
    Who cares a curse who asks us then!
    For we are the New-Jeans Gentlemen.
    It's up and on! give the horse his head!
    The rain is out and the world in bed.
    Ride on to the village, and then ride back,
    Where stands a house by the railroad track:
    Riddle its windows and batter its door,
    And call him out and shoot some more.
    And if he question, why, damn him! then
    Just shoot him down like gentlemen.
    Why, he was a wretch beneath all scorn
    Who planted the weed instead of corn.
    And here is another who sold, by God!
    Just bare his back and ply the rod!
    Now burn his barn! and, sink or swim,
    It's sport for us but Hell for him.
    And well he'll know when we leave him then
    That we are the New-Jeans Gentlemen.
    Yes; we are kin to the bat and owl:
    We wait till night, then prey and prowl.
    The man who plants or sells this year
    Our hounds shall smell him out, no fear.
    The hunt is up! Who'll bid us halt?
    We'll sow his beds with grass and salt,
    Or shoot him down like a dog, and then
    Ride off like New-Jeans Gentlemen.

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Type of Poem: Ballad

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem is a vivid exposition of a group of rogue men, the 'New-Jeans Gentlemen,' who operate under the cover of night, much like the bat and owl, invoking a theme of lawlessness and rebellion. Their activities, ranging from riding and shooting to burning down towns, are depicted without remorse or regret, which gives the poem a dark and unsettling tone.

The structure of the poem, with its repetitive phrases ("It's up and out with the owl and bat!" and "For we are the New-Jeans Gentlemen."), adds a rhythmic quality that mirrors the relentless actions of these men. The use of rhyming couplets throughout enhances this rhythmic feel, and makes the poem more accessible and engaging, despite its grim content.

The poem is rife with metaphoric language and vivid imagery, as seen in phrases like "Black clouds are hunting the flying moon," which paints a foreboding scene that mirrors the activities of the 'New-Jeans Gentlemen.' The repeated use of animals, like the bat and owl, further serve to highlight the predatory nature of these men. In its entirety, the poem presents an unflinching portrayal of lawless men who revel in their actions, creating a thought-provoking commentary on rebellion and lawlessness.