Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE FLAG by EDITH MATILDA THOMAS

First Line: I WALKED AT NOON DOWN BROADWAY
Last Line: HOW BEAUTIFUL I NEVER KNEW BEFORE!

@3I WALKED at noon down Broadway
And East I turned at Wall,
Crossed Nassau Street and William --
Old Glory over all!
Did you not do the same, today --
And brush the sudden tear away?@1

The hanging gardens -- how they bloom
Far up the builded canyon's gloom!
There never was before a spring
Of such a wondrous blossoming
To make the eye and heart adore!...
How beautiful, how beautiful --
How beautiful I never knew before!

The hanging gardens -- Oh, how brave
When on the lifting wind they wave!
Nor flaw nor frost can work them wrong,
Perennial is the stock, and strong --
In hardihood 'twas sown of yore!...
How beautiful, how beautiful --
How beautiful I never knew before!

The hanging gardens -- colors three
Are all the raptured eye can see.
No flower exotic here has place,
But all are sprung of native race --
The red, the white, the blue -- not more ...
How beautiful, how beautiful --
How beautiful I never knew before!

The hanging gardens -- and how far
May crimson band and candid star
A looming throw in other skies
O'er lands where kindred bloom shall rise
From broadcast seed that Freedom bore ...
How beautiful, how beautiful --
How beautiful I never knew before!



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