Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WHAT THE FLAGS SAID, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WHAT THE FLAGS SAID, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The great gay flag that ran on the jubilant breeze
Last Line: "lo, I am the nation's prayer!"
Subject(s): Flags - United States; American Flag


The great gay flag that ran on the jubilant breeze
Shouted such words as these:
"O far is the reach of the beautiful, masterful land,
From eastern to western sand.
O fair in the sun, green mile upon golden mile,
Its woodland and cornland smile.
On hill or vale, by gulf or the mountain gates,
The spacious splendor of States,
And lifted high, as the flash of a purpose high,
Its arch of imperial sky!"

The proud old flag that lay on the listening breeze
Murmured such words as these:
"They came from afar, dear sons of the land below,
From realms of the fire, the snow;
Yet solely for one queen country their pulses stir,
Their hands and their hearts for her!
At the beck of her finger, the lightest command she cried,
How many have gladly died!
For the joy they may give her, the glory and grace they may give,
How many devoted live!"

The swelling flag, full-blown with the reverent breeze,
Rejoiced in such words as these:
"For leagues of manhood, resolute, gentle, brave,
Their symbol and sign I wave;
For leagues of womanhood, heroine-true and fair,
I curve to the gracious air;
For leagues of childhood, blossoming tall and white,
And pure in the angels' sight;
For leagues of churches and schools and the homes between,
I fly in the blue serene!"

Then a tattered flag, its hands outstretched on the breeze,
Flung forth such petitions as these:
"O God of the universe, far to its uttermost strand
Be Thou the God of this land!
When foes from without or in wrath or in madness assail,
Be Thou its inviolate pale!
When foes from within their poisonous sorceries urge,
Be Thou its besoming scourge!
Heart-red. thought-white, heaven-blue to Thy heavens fair,
Lo, I am the nation's prayer!"





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