Poems (Kennedy)/Our Flag

by Sara Beaumont Kennedy

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.

Fierce tempests sweeping from the North 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 skyIt 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.

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.

We fear no foeman far or near, No hour of black despair,While over us the nation's flag Hangs like a floating prayer.