| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 1481. Under the Stars |
| | | By Wallace Rice |
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| TELL me what sail the seas | |
| Under the stars? | |
| Ships, and ships’ companies, | |
| Off to the wars. | |
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| Steel are the ship’s great sides, | 5 |
| Steel are her guns, | |
| Backward she thrusts the tides, | |
| Swiftly she runs; | |
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| Steel is the sailor’s heart, | |
| Stalwart his arm, | 10 |
| His the Republic’s part | |
| Through cloud and storm. | |
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| Tell me what standard rare | |
| Streams from the spars? | |
| Red stripes and white they bear, | 15 |
| Blue, with bright stars: | |
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| Red for brave hearts that burn | |
| With liberty, | |
| White for the peace they earn | |
| Making men free, | 20 |
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| Stars for the Heaven above,— | |
| Blue for the deep, | |
| Where, in their country’s love, | |
| Heroes shall sleep. | |
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| Tell me why on the breeze | 25 |
| These banners blow? | |
| Ships, and ships’ companies, | |
| Eagerly go | |
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| Warring, like all our line, | |
| Freedom to friend | 30 |
| Under this starry sign, | |
| True to the end. | |
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| Fair is the Flag’s renown, | |
| Sacred her scars, | |
| Sweet the death she shall crown | 35 |
| Under the stars. | |
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