Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VIII. National Spirit. 1904. | | | | I. Patriotism | | The Flag goes by | | Henry Holcomb Bennett (1863–1924) |
| | | HATS off! | |
| Along the street there comes | |
| A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums, | |
| A flash of color beneath the sky: | |
| Hats off! | 5 |
| The flag is passing by! | |
| |
| Blue and crimson and white it shines, | |
| Over the steel-tipped, ordered lines. | |
| Hats off! | |
| The colors before us fly; | 10 |
| 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; | 15 |
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| Days of plenty and years of peace; | |
| March of a strong land’s swift increase; | |
| Equal justice, right and law, | |
| Stately honor and reverend awe; | |
| |
| Sign of a nation, great and strong | 20 |
| To ward her people from foreign wrong: | |
| Pride and glory and honor,—all | |
| Live in the colors to stand or fall. | |
| |
| Hats off! | |
| Along the street there comes | 25 |
| A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums; | |
| And loyal hearts are beating high: | |
| Hats off! | |
| The flag is passing by! | | | | |
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