Poems (Ford)/Our Flag
For works with similar titles, see Our Flag.
OUR FLAG.
Fair banner of a mighty land,
Thy starry rays sublime
Burst forth like Freedom's beacon-lights
Upon the shore of, time,
And long with clear and steady blaze
Have kept their cloudless way,
Unmindful of the changing years,
And fearless of decay.
Thy starry rays sublime
Burst forth like Freedom's beacon-lights
Upon the shore of, time,
And long with clear and steady blaze
Have kept their cloudless way,
Unmindful of the changing years,
And fearless of decay.
Thy radiant folds waved proudly where,
'Mid war's terrific flood,
Our infant Nation sprang to life,
Baptized in heroes' blood;
Where sturdy arms and patriot hearts
Cast off the galling band
Of despot power, that serpent-like
Coiled round this favored land.
'Mid war's terrific flood,
Our infant Nation sprang to life,
Baptized in heroes' blood;
Where sturdy arms and patriot hearts
Cast off the galling band
Of despot power, that serpent-like
Coiled round this favored land.
Thy stars have gleamed o'er war's red tide;
'Mid smoke and cannons' roar
Thy crimson stripes were dyed anew
In many a brave heart's gore,
While guarding, as a sacred trust
From the Almighty hand,
The cradle of young Liberty,
Rocked 'mid our forests grand.
'Mid smoke and cannons' roar
Thy crimson stripes were dyed anew
In many a brave heart's gore,
While guarding, as a sacred trust
From the Almighty hand,
The cradle of young Liberty,
Rocked 'mid our forests grand.
And now, though clouds are gathering
Above thy glorious blue,
And some bright stars, with fading ray,
Are sinking from our view,
To wander in a trackless maze
Of fearful storm and night,
The tempest will but serve to make
The others shine more bright.
Above thy glorious blue,
And some bright stars, with fading ray,
Are sinking from our view,
To wander in a trackless maze
Of fearful storm and night,
The tempest will but serve to make
The others shine more bright.
The Nation's mighty heart is stirred
As with a sudden pain;
Her bravest and her best go forth
To shield her flag from stain,—
To see its stars, bright as of yore,
Shine over field and flood,
Or quench their light on Freedom's tomb
In the last freeman's blood.
As with a sudden pain;
Her bravest and her best go forth
To shield her flag from stain,—
To see its stars, bright as of yore,
Shine over field and flood,
Or quench their light on Freedom's tomb
In the last freeman's blood.
When History's muse essays with tears,
In some succeeding age,
To wash the fratricidal blood
From off the crimson page
That stains the annals of our land,
Above her brow shall wave
The star-gemmed banner—then, as now,
Flag of the free and brave.
In some succeeding age,
To wash the fratricidal blood
From off the crimson page
That stains the annals of our land,
Above her brow shall wave
The star-gemmed banner—then, as now,
Flag of the free and brave.
Oh, soon may peace, on angel-wings,
Be wafted to our shore;
Then all our stars, with purer light,
And brighter than before,
One glorious constellation yet
In harmony shall shine,
Encircled by the Orion-band
That brother-love must twine.
Be wafted to our shore;
Then all our stars, with purer light,
And brighter than before,
One glorious constellation yet
In harmony shall shine,
Encircled by the Orion-band
That brother-love must twine.
Great Ruler of the Universe,
Before Thy throne we pray,
Bestow on us that holy peace
Earth can not take away.
Long may our beauteous banner wave,—
Long may our fair land be
The refuge of the wanderer,
The homestead of the free.
Before Thy throne we pray,
Bestow on us that holy peace
Earth can not take away.
Long may our beauteous banner wave,—
Long may our fair land be
The refuge of the wanderer,
The homestead of the free.
1861.