Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE HALLOWED STAR OF GOLD, by CHARLES LOUIS HENRY WAGNER First Line: Twas a little gray house by an old country road Last Line: "the voice of this star through my art." Subject(s): Flags - United States; Patriotism; Soldiers; American Flag | ||||||||
'Twas a little gray house by an old country road That attracted my notice to-day, For there hung in a window a banner, which showed A contrast most marked to its gray. There was one golden star on a centred white field, With a border, blood-red, as a frame, But oh! how it thrilled as its presence revealed A glory so worthy of fame. Like Jupiter's gleams at the first kiss of Night It glowed in my vision, and left In the deep of my soul the gold of its light To give to the hearts now bereft. And I saw in its beams, not the death typified, But, rather, the Hope of all hopes, The vision of Life across the Divide, And the Door that true sacrifice opes. As the lightning reveals ere the dull thunders grind, I glimpsed in a land far away The brave, stalwart men who were marching behind The Stars and the Stripes to the fray. And I singled from out the thousands who fought The lad for whom gold was displayed, And I noted a smile on his lips, and I caught A glance of his eyes, unafraid. There, I saw him enthused with the purpose of Right And the love of his Country's ideal, Go leaping to death in the thick of the fight, Forgetting himself in his zeal. My vision was brief, but I saw him go down, Yet not in the throes of defeat, For I knew that such death but betokened a crown And a place in God's holy retreat. Then that single starred flag in the house by the road Seemed hallowed and sacred to me, And oh! how the gold on its white bosom glowed As it whispered this message to me. No, they are not dead, those who fall in the Cause That glorifies Strife, for they live In the Land of the Leal where the Infinite draws To Himself the life that He gives. Then my soul breathed the words that my lips left unsaid, "O, God, burn this gold in my heart, And give me to teach in my song, and to spread The voice of this star through my art." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FLAG GOES BY by HENRY HOLCOMB BENNETT THE AMERICAN FLAG by JOSEPH RODMAN DRAKE THE CALL TO THE COLORS by ARTHUR GUITERMAN BETSY'S BATTLE FLAG by MINNA IRVING THE BONNIE BLUE FLAG by ANNIE CHAMBERS KETCHUM THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER by FRANCIS SCOTT KEY THE CONQUERED BANNER by ABRAM JOSEPH RYAN FANCIES AT NAVESINK: 6 by WALT WHITMAN A DROP OF INK by CHARLES LOUIS HENRY WAGNER |
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