POEM OF THE DAY

Photo credit:

Ross County Historical Society 

Via Facebook 

The Flag Goes By

“The Flag Goes By” is included out of

 regard to a boy of eleven years who 

pleased me by his great appreciation

 of it. It teaches the lesson of reverence 

to our great national symbol. It is published 

by permission of the author, Henry Holcomb

 Bennett, of Ohio. (1863-.)

Hats off!

Along the street there comes

A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums,

A flash of colour beneath the sky:

Hats off!

The flag is passing by!

Blue and crimson and white it shines

Over the steel-tipped, ordered lines.

Hats off!

The colours before us fly;

But more than the flag is passing by.

Sea-fights and land-fights, grim and great,

Fought to make and to save the State:

Weary marches and sinking ships;

Cheers of victory on dying lips;

Days of plenty and years of peace;

March of a strong land’s swift increase;

Equal justice, right, and law,

Stately honour and reverend awe;

Sign of a nation, great and strong

Toward her people from foreign wrong:

Pride and glory and honour,—all

Live in the colours to stand or fall.

Hats off!

Along the street there comes

A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums;

And loyal hearts are beating high:

Hats off!

The flag is passing by!

Henry Holcomb Bennett