Poems (Proctor)/The Stripes and the Stars
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THE STRIPES AND THE STARS.April, 1861.
O Star-spangled Banner! the Flag of our pride!
Though trampled by traitors and basely defied,
Fling out to the glad winds your Red, White, and Blue,
For the heart of the North-land is beating for you!
And her strong arm is nerving to strike with a will
Till the foe and his boastings are humbled and still!
Here's welcome to wounding and combat and scars
And the glory of death,—for the Stripes and the Stars!
Though trampled by traitors and basely defied,
Fling out to the glad winds your Red, White, and Blue,
For the heart of the North-land is beating for you!
And her strong arm is nerving to strike with a will
Till the foe and his boastings are humbled and still!
Here's welcome to wounding and combat and scars
And the glory of death,—for the Stripes and the Stars!
From prairie, O ploughman, speed boldly away!
There 's seed to be sown in God's furrows to-day;
Row landward, lone fisher! stout woodman, come home!
Let smith leave his anvil, and weaver his loom,
And hamlet and city ring loud with the cry,
"For Country, for Freedom, we'll fight till we die!
Here 's welcome to wounding and combat and scars
And the glory of death,—for the Stripes and the Stars!
There 's seed to be sown in God's furrows to-day;
Row landward, lone fisher! stout woodman, come home!
Let smith leave his anvil, and weaver his loom,
And hamlet and city ring loud with the cry,
"For Country, for Freedom, we'll fight till we die!
Here 's welcome to wounding and combat and scars
And the glory of death,—for the Stripes and the Stars!
Invincible Banner! the Flag of the Free!
Now where are the feet that would falter by thee?
Or the hands to be folded till triumph is won,
And the eagle looks proud, as of old, to the sun?
Give tears for the parting,—a murmur of prayer,
Then Forward! the fame of our standard to share!
With welcome to wounding and combat and scars
And the glory of death,—for the Stripes and the Stars!
Now where are the feet that would falter by thee?
Or the hands to be folded till triumph is won,
And the eagle looks proud, as of old, to the sun?
Give tears for the parting,—a murmur of prayer,
Then Forward! the fame of our standard to share!
With welcome to wounding and combat and scars
And the glory of death,—for the Stripes and the Stars!
O God of our Fathers! this Banner must shine
Where battle is hottest, in warfare divine!
The cannon has thundered, the bugle has blown,
We fear not the summons; we fight not alone!
Still lead us, till wide from the Gulf to the Sea
The land shall be sacred to Freedom and Thee!
With love, for oppression; with blessing, for scars;
One Country—one Banner—the Stripes and the Stars!
Where battle is hottest, in warfare divine!
The cannon has thundered, the bugle has blown,
We fear not the summons; we fight not alone!
Still lead us, till wide from the Gulf to the Sea
The land shall be sacred to Freedom and Thee!
With love, for oppression; with blessing, for scars;
One Country—one Banner—the Stripes and the Stars!