The Battle Flag

O sweeping wave of white and red,
Flow ever at the column's head !
O star-lit field of blue, lead on
Where Trust and Faith so oft have gone!
Onward tho foes dispute the way,
Onward by night and on by day,
Up the slant path whatever bars
The kindred of the mounting stars
Till he who bears thee waves thee high,
Where those who scorn thee fall and die,
O battle-flag of Ours.
For war has claimed thee: thine the strife;
Thy threads all thrill with fighting life:
Thy lifting wind a sulph rous blast,
And for thy flaunting no tall mast
On frowning fort or tow ring ship,
Only a brave man's steadfast grip
To bear thee while the heavens reel
With crash of iron, flash of steel;
But Death a thousand lives must call
Ere thou shalt droop, ere thou shalt fall,
O battle-flag of Ours.
O beauteous flag that Love upholds,
Spread freedom neath thy silken folds,
And Truth and Justice mark thy sweep
On land or on the rolling deep;
And stern and swift thy message be
Where freedom fails on land or sea.
On by the light from Glory's face,
On with the passion of our race!
And battle torn or redder dyed,
Still float supreme in starry pride,
O battle-flag of Ours.