The Flag of Our Union

The Flag of Our Union

Original Text
Poems (New York: Charles Scribner , 1860): 68-69.
1"A song for our banner?" -- The watchword recall
2   Which gave the Republic her station:
3"United we stand -- divided we fall!" --
4   It made and preserves us a nation!
5The union of lakes -- the union of lands --
6   The union of States none can sever --
7The union of hearts -- the union of hands --
8     And the Flag of the Union for ever
9       And ever!
10     The Flag of our Union for ever
11What God in his mercy and wisdom designed,
12   And armed with his weapons of thunder,
13Not all the earth's despots and factions combined
14   Have the power to conquer or sunder!
15The union of lakes -- the union of lands --
16   The union of states none can sever --
17The union of hearts -- the union of hands --
18   And the Flag of the Union for ever
19        And ever!
20      The Flag of our Union for ever!
21Oh, keep that flag flying! -- The pride of the van!
22   To all other nations display it!
23The ladies for union are all to a -- man!
24   But not to the man who'd betray it.
25Then the union of lakes -- the union of lands --
26   The union of states none can sever --
27The union of hearts -- the union of hands --
28   And the Flag of the Union for ever
29        And ever!
30      The Flag of our Union for ever!
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2004
Rhyme