Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, KEEP THE FLAG WAVING, JACK!, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

KEEP THE FLAG WAVING, JACK!, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Only a boy, but never you mind!
Last Line: God bless our boys!
Subject(s): Boys; Sea Battles; World War I; Naval Warfare; First World War


Only a boy, but never you mind!
When are the boys found lagging behind?
Cowards and butchers, fire as you will;
Here is a spirit you cannot kill.

Keep the flag waving, Jack!
It's well worth saving, Jack!
Scorn all their raving, Jack!
God bless our boys!

Statesmen and sages, think it all out;
Waverers, traitors, brandish the doubt:
Here is a heart without an alloy!
Gallant is truth as seen by a boy.

Jack is the breed America bears;
Shells and torpedoes -- little he cares.
Give him a gun and how he will fight
Fearless and stern for God and the right!

Keep the flag waving, Jack!
It's well worth saving, Jack!
Scorn all their raving, Jack!
God bless our boys!





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