Poems (Grossman)/Old Glory!

by Ethel B. Grossman

OLD GLORY Written on the raising of the American Flag at Sagamore Hotel, Long Lake, N. Y., July 4th, 1914.

See, here Old Glory floats on high;
It's banners seem to touch the sky;
It's white and crimson bars wave o'er
Our dear old Hotel Sagamore.

It makes us think of days gone by,
When soldiers, without tear or sigh,
Courageous, honest, strong and brave,
Beneath this flag their lives they gave.

The Fourth of July, 76,
"Our boys" wished for a "Fourth" like this:
With strife forgot—guns laid aside—
This, when the spirit of war had died.

'Twas then this dear old flag was made,
And o'er the graves of soldiers laid;
But now we have one here again;
It seems to bring good will to men.

To-day the Fourth we celebrate;
To do so we can hardly wait,
With love and joy, with cheers and pride
For soldiers who, for freedom, died.

The caps and crackers make a noise;
These and sky-rockets are the joys
So dear to hearts of girls and boys;
The cannons used are only toys.

But don't forget that flag so dear
When on the Fourth you loudly cheer.
We love it with a love sincere,
At home, abroad, afar or near.

Hurrah! Hurrah! The dear old flag!
Let's give it with a vim and will.
Let's give the cheer that makes us glad,
And have it heard o'er plain and hill.

July 4, 1914.