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Fly a Clean Flag

This I heard the Old Flag say
   As I passed it yesterday:
   ‘Months ago your friendly hands
   Fastened me on slender strands
   And with patriotic love
   Placed me here to wave above
   You and yours. I heard you say
   On that long departed day:
   ’Flag of all that’s true and fine,
   Wave above this house of mine;
   Be the first at break of day
   And the last at night to say
   To the world this word of cheer:
   Loyalty abideth here.’
 
   'Here on every wind that’s blown,
   O’er your’ portal I have flown;
   Rain and snow have battered me,
   Storms at night have tattered me;
   Dust of street and chimney stack
   Day by day have stained me black,
   And I’ve watched you passing there,
   Wondering how much you care.
   Have you noticed that your flag,
   Is to-day a wind-blown rag?
   Has your love so careless grown
   By the long neglect you’ve shown
   That you never raise your eye
   To the symbol that you fly?’
 
   'Flag, on which no stain has been,
   ’Tis my sin that you’re unclean,’
   Then I answered in my shame.
   ‘On my head must lie the blame.
   Now with patriotic hands
   I release you from your strands,
   And a spotless flag shall fly
   Here to greet each passer-by.
   Nevermore shall Flag of mine
   Be a sad and sorry sign
   Telling all who look above
   I neglect the thing I love.
   But my Flag of faith shall be
   Fit for every eye to see.’
Other works by Edgar Albert Guest...



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