Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE AMERICAN ENSIGN, by GEORGE LUNT


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE AMERICAN ENSIGN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: One morn, when orient beams were bright
Last Line: And only sink in freedom's grave!
Subject(s): Flags - United States; Freedom; United States; American Flag; Liberty; America


ONE morn, when orient beams were bright,
Just rising on the wakened world,
I saw our flag of glorious light
Its roll of beauty wave unfurled.
High blazed in air the flaming fold
And starry azure to the breeze,
Triumphant as o'er fields of old
And victor on the conquered seas.
Refulgent thus in morning's ray,
Methought that standard still should sweep.
Pour on old lands a new-born day,
And freight with freedom all the deep.

But soon, descending on the morn,
Some lurid cloud embattled flew,
Rent the wild skies, by thunders torn,
And all its gathered deluge threw;
Still, as in battle's fiery front,
I saw my country's flag unrolled
Meet the dread storm's impetuous brunt,
And fling the tempest from its fold.
And thus, methought, though factions rage,
That glorious standard still shall wave,
Hope of the world, through age on age,
And only sink in Freedom's grave!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net