Ralph Waldo Emerson
Not gold, but only man can make
A people great and strong;
Men who, for truth and honor's sake
Stand fast and suffer long.
Brave men who work while others sleep,
Who dare while others fly-
They build a nation's pillars deep
And lift them to the sky.
God Save the Flag
Oliver Wendell Holmes
WASHED in the blood of the brave and the blooming,
Snatched from the altars of insolent foes,
Burning with star-fires, but never consuming,
Flash it's broad ribbons of lily and rose.
Vainly the prophets of Baal would rend it,
Vainly his worshippers pray for it's fall;
Thousands have died for it, millions defend it,
Emblem of justice and mercy to all;
Justice that reddens the sky with her terrors,
Mercy that comes with her white-handed train,
Soothing all passions, redeeming all errors,
Sheathing the sabre and breaking the chain.
Borne on the deluge of all usurpations,
Drifted our Ark o'er desolate seas,
Bearing the rainbow of hope to the nations,
Torn from the storm-cloud and flung to the breeze!
God bless the Flag and it's loyal defenders,
While it's broad folds o'er the battlefield wave,
Till the dim star-wreath rekindle it's splendor
Washed from it's stains in the blood of the brave!
No comments:
Post a Comment