 | [Poems by Halleck in] Fitz-Greene Halleck : An Early Knickerbocker Wit and Poet |  |
Lines
Flag of my country! proudly wave!
High to the favoring breeze of Heaven;
The rallying point that forms the brave,
Whene'er the battle-word is given.
High to the favoring breeze of Heaven;
The rallying point that forms the brave,
Whene'er the battle-word is given.
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As when at evening on the deep,
From their lov'd firesides distant far,
Their anxious eyes, the sailors keep
Fix'd on their guide, the northern star—
From their lov'd firesides distant far,
Their anxious eyes, the sailors keep
Fix'd on their guide, the northern star—
So, on thy stars, in danger's day,
The warrior turns his daring eye,
And dauntless treads the crimson'd way,
Through honor's path, to victory!
The warrior turns his daring eye,
And dauntless treads the crimson'd way,
Through honor's path, to victory!
Where first their eagle met the gale,
Our fathers bade these shores be free,
And long, where slaughter strew'd the vale,
They fearless fought and bled for thee.
Our fathers bade these shores be free,
And long, where slaughter strew'd the vale,
They fearless fought and bled for thee.
Till England's banner-cross was furled,
And Peace her olive branch display'd;
Then 'mid the plaudits of a world,
They sheath'd the consecrated blade.
And Peace her olive branch display'd;
Then 'mid the plaudits of a world,
They sheath'd the consecrated blade.
Yet once again the trump of war
Has bid the dream of peace be o'er;
Again Invasion's crimson car
Drives threatening round our hallow'd shore.
Has bid the dream of peace be o'er;
Again Invasion's crimson car
Drives threatening round our hallow'd shore.
But shall that flag which on the billow,
So late has won Fame's laurel wreath,
Which formed a hero's dying pillow,
And wrapt his pallid corse in death?
So late has won Fame's laurel wreath,
Which formed a hero's dying pillow,
And wrapt his pallid corse in death?
Say, shall that flag e'er share the fate
Of Gallia's fallen tri-color?
Shall history say, “It once was great,
But soon it fell to rise no more”?
Of Gallia's fallen tri-color?
Shall history say, “It once was great,
But soon it fell to rise no more”?
No! while within each manly breast
Burns one faint spark of valor's flame;
While glory lifts its glittering crest,
And honor points the path to fame.
Burns one faint spark of valor's flame;
While glory lifts its glittering crest,
And honor points the path to fame.
While spring adorns with flow'rets fair,
The grave where low our fathers lie,
So long its stars shall blaze in air,
So long to Heaven's breezes fly!
The grave where low our fathers lie,
So long its stars shall blaze in air,
So long to Heaven's breezes fly!
Flag of my country! proudly wave!
Nor dread the invader's bold command;
While nobly fight the good and brave
For freedom and their native land.
Nor dread the invader's bold command;
While nobly fight the good and brave
For freedom and their native land.
Y. H. S.
New York, July, 1814.
| [Poems by Halleck in] Fitz-Greene Halleck : An Early Knickerbocker Wit and Poet | |