Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IT IS THE FLAG, by DOUGLAS MALLOCH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IT IS THE FLAG, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sail some foreign sea
Last Line: But it is the flag!
Subject(s): Flags - United States; American Flag


Sail some foreign sea,
Tread some foreign land,
Far from your America --
Then you'll understand.
Homeward bound again,
With the harbor nigh,
You will see a banner fair
Up against the sky.

Just the stripes of white,
Just the stripes of red,
Just a square of starry blue
Waving overhead;
Humble it may be:
It may be a rag
Torn to tatters by the wind --
But it is the Flag!

You who never thought,
You who never saw,
You who passed with careless tread,
Heedless of the law,
You will feel a thrill,
Exaltation new,
Looking on your standard there,
Red and White and Blue.

Safe within its folds
Are the truly free,
Held within its mighty arms
All your liberty.
With a mist of tears,
With uncovered head,
You will greet it evermore,
Blue and white and red.

Sail some foreign sea,
Tread some foreign land,
Far from your America --
Then you'll understand.
Humble it may be:
It may be a rag
Torn to tatters by the wind --
But it is the Flag!





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