Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE TENNESSEEAN TO THE FLAG, by JOHN TROTWOOD MOORE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE TENNESSEEAN TO THE FLAG, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: We followed you first in the days of old
Last Line: Than the love of our people for thee.
Subject(s): Confederate States Of America; Flags; Patriotism; Soldiers; Tennessee; Confederacy


(A Poem Read at the Opening of the United States Arsenal at Columbia, Tenn.)

WE followed you first in the days of old,
For you stood for the rights of men,
And our pioneer soldiers followed your fold—
For they fought for the Union then;
They held you aloft in the fiery flame,
'Mid the shriek of the British shell,
And planted you on the heights of fame—
That flag they loved so well!

We followed you first in the days of old,
When our Jackson went to the fray,
And the Tennessee soldiers lay in the cold
Of that long, dread winter day.
They lay in the cold, but you floated o'er,
And the silence was deep as the grave
Till their long-barreled rifles spoke with a roar
For the flag they fought to save.

We followed you first in the days of old,
When our Polk roused the Mexican ire,
And we gathered an empire into the fold
To warm it with Liberty's fire.
'Twas our own gallant Campbell who led the band,
The first o'er the Mexican height,
And yon flag of our Union went in his hand
Through the red-hot fire of the fight.

We've followed you oft in the days of old—
And we'll follow you oft again!
Shall the pulse of the son grow sluggish and cold
Where the sire's blood flowed like the rain?
Shall the deeds of the past, by Error bewail'd,
Be lost in passion's dark flow,
And the flag of our country by brothers be trailed
When it never has trailed to the foe?

No! We'll follow you now, proud flag of the free,
Should the foe with his banners e'er come—
No need for a bugle to call us to thee,
Our hearts make the beat of our drum!
With the spirit of Jackson to guide from above,
And the mem'ry of Crockett to aid us,
We'll rally once more to the banner we love—
The banner our forefathers made us!

Then wave, proud flag of our Union,
Wave and unroll your bright bars;
For never was sunshine brighter,
And never the sweet air lighter
Than that now circling your stars.

Then float, proud flag of our Union,
Float o'er this land of the free;
For ne'er was love any truer,
And ne'er was sentiment purer
Than the love of our people for thee.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


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