Poems (Kennedy)/Our Flag
For works with similar titles, see Our Flag.
OUR FLAG
(JUNE 14)
FURTHER than Roman eagles flew
When Rome ruled all the world,
From rise to set of distant suns
Our banner is unfurled.
When Rome ruled all the world,
From rise to set of distant suns
Our banner is unfurled.
Fierce tempests sweeping from the North
Baptize it with their snows;
The South wind softly sings to it
The love song of the rose;
Baptize it with their snows;
The South wind softly sings to it
The love song of the rose;
And winds of East meet winds of West
Where high against the sky
It leans to watch, o'er land and sea,
The drifting years go by.
Where high against the sky
It leans to watch, o'er land and sea,
The drifting years go by.
Handwriting on the changing clouds
Its colors gleam above;
The red for war, the white for peace,
The blue for truth and love.
Its colors gleam above;
The red for war, the white for peace,
The blue for truth and love.
And, ah, its stars, its steadfast stars—
A star for each proud state!
They are the sleepless guardian eyes
That read the book of fate.
A star for each proud state!
They are the sleepless guardian eyes
That read the book of fate.
We fear no foeman far or near,
No hour of black despair,
While over us the nation's flag
Hangs like a floating prayer.
No hour of black despair,
While over us the nation's flag
Hangs like a floating prayer.