Page:Patriotic pieces from the Great War, Jones, 1918.djvu/116

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
112
PATRIOTIC PIECES

FLY A CLEAN FLAG

By permission of the author and the publishers, The Reilly & Britton Co., Chicago

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?