Four stormy years we saw it gleam,
A people’s hope…and then refurled,
Even while its glory was the theme
Of half the world.
A beacon that with streaming ray
Dazzled a struggling nation’s sight—
Seeming a pillar of cloud by day,
Of fire by night.
They jeer who trembled as it hung,
Comet-like blazoning the sky—
And heroes, such as Homer sung,
Followed it to die.
It fell…but stainless as it rose,
Martyred, like Stephen, in the strife—
Passing, like him, girdled with foes,
From Death to Life.
Flame’s trophy! Sanctified with tears—
Planted forever at her portal;
Folded, true: What then? Four short years
Made it immortal!
(Henry Lynden Flash)
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Based on Topics: Life Poems, World Poems, Night Poems, Fire Poems, Success Poems, People Poems, Heroism Poems, Immortality PoemsBased on Keywords: tears-, strife-, blazoning, comet-like, refurled