WHAT flower is this that greets the morn, Its hues from Heaven so freshly born? With burning star and flaming band It kindles all the sunset land: Oh tell us what its name may be, -- Is this the Flower of Liberty? It is the banner of the free, The starry Flower of Liberty! In savage Nature's far abode Its tender seed our fathers sowed; The storm-winds rocked its swelling bud, Its opening leaves were streaked with blood, Till lo! earth's tyrants shook to see The full-blown Flower of Liberty! Then hail the banner of the free, The starry Flower of Liberty! Behold its streaming rays unite, One mingling flood of braided light, -- The red that fires the Southern rose, With spotless white from Northern snows, And, spangled o'er its azure, see The sister Stars of Liberty! Then hail the banner of the free, The starry Flower of Liberty! The blades of heroes fence it round, Where'er it springs is holy ground; From tower and dome its glories spread; It waves where lonely sentries tread; It makes the land as ocean free, And plants an empire on the sea! Then hail the banner of the free, The starry Flower of Liberty! Thy sacred leaves, fair Freedom's flower, Shall ever float on dome and tower, To all their heavenly colors true, In blackening frost or crimson dew, -- And God love us as we love thee, Thrice holy Flower of Liberty! Then hail the banner of the free, The starry FLOWER OF LIBERTY! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SCINTILLA by WILLIAM STANLEY BRAITHWAITE SIMON THE CYRENIAN SPEAKS by COUNTEE CULLEN BREST LEFT BEHIND by JOHN CHIPMAN FARRAR LIBERTY FOR ALL by WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: ANNE RUTLEDGE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 9. WHEN by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |