THE FLAG
Kiss the loud winds, O darling of all hearts,
And shoot o'er land and sea thy beams worldwide!
How many thousands in thy light have died,
Radiant and sweet! now from our banners darts
A greater glory! in our bosoms starts
A deeper joy: so swells the long-pent tide
Of full devotion to thy sacred side,
And from impatient millions doubt departs.
Advance thy colors in the captain-files
That vanward lead the many-languaged host
Like mighty waves that lift an angry sea,—
And break the German! miles on headlong miles
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