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Union And Liberty

By Oliver Wendell Holmes

Topics: classic

Flag of the heroes who left us their glory,     Borne through their battle-fields' thunder and flame,     Blazoned in song and illumined in story,     Wave o'er us all who inherit their fame!     Up with our banner bright,     Sprinkled with starry light,     Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore,     While through the sounding sky     Loud rings the Nation's cry, -     UNION AND LIBERTY! ONE EVERMORE!     Light of our firmament, guide of our Nation,     Pride of her children, and honored afar,     Let the wide beams of thy full constellation     Scatter each cloud that would darken a star     Up with our banner bright, etc.     Empire unsceptred! what foe shall assail thee,     Bearing the standard of Liberty's van?     Think not the God of thy fathers shall fail thee,     Striving with men for the birthright of man!     Up with our banner bright, etc.     Yet if, by madness and treachery blighted,     Dawns the dark hour when the sword thou must draw,     Then with the arms of thy millions united,     Smite the bold traitors to Freedom and Law!     Up with our banner bright, etc.     Lord of the Universe! shield us and guide us,     Trusting Thee always, through shadow and sun!     Thou hast united us, who shall divide us?     Keep us, oh keep us the MANY IN ONE!     Up with our banner bright,     Sprinkled with starry light,     Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore,     While through the sounding sky     Loud rings the Nation's cry, -     UNION AND LIBERTY! ONE EVERMORE!

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Author:Oliver Wendell Holmes

"Flag of the heroes who left us their glory,..." by Oliver Wendell Holmes

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Oliver Wendell Holmes

About Oliver Wendell Holmes

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809–1894) was an American poet, physician, and essayist. His poems "Old Ironsides" and "The Chambered Nautilus" are American classics. He was part of the Fireside Poets group.

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