Classic Poem

Stand by the Flag! Its stars like meteors gleaming,
—Have lighted Arctic icebergs, southern seas,
And shone responsive to the stormy beaming
—Of old Arcturus and the Pleiades.

Stand by the Flag! Its stripes have streamed in glory,
—To foes a fear, to friends a festal robe,
And spread in rhythmic lines the sacred story
—Of Freedom's triumphs over all the globe.

Stand by the Flag! On land and ocean billow
—By it your fathers stood unmoved and true,
Living defended; dying, from their pillow,
—With their last blessing passed it on to you.

Stand by the Flag! Immortal heroes bore it
—Through sulphurous smoke, deep moat and armed defense;
And their imperial Shades still hover o'er it,
—A guard celestial from Omnipotence.

Stand by the Flag! Its stars like meteors gleaming,
Have lighted Arctic icebergs, southern seas,
And shone responsive to the stormy beaming
Of old Arcturus and the Pleiades.

Stand by the Flag! Its stripes have streamed in glory,
To foes a fear, to friends a festal robe,
And spread in rhythmic lines the sacred story
Of Freedom's triumphs over all the globe.

Stand by the Flag! On land and ocean billow
By it your fathers stood unmoved and true,
Living defended; dying, from their pillow,
With their last blessing passed it on to you.

Stand by the Flag! Immortal heroes bore it
Through sulphurous smoke, deep moat and armed defense;
And their imperial Shades still hover o'er it,
A guard celestial from Omnipotence.