  FURL that Banner, for ’tis weary; Take that Banner down! ’tis tattered; Broken is its staff and shattered; And the valiant hosts are scattered, Over whom it floated high. Oh, ’tis hard for us to fold it, Hard to think there’s none to hold it, Hard that those who once unrolled it Now must furl it with a sigh! Furl that Banner—furl it sadly; Once ten thousands hailed it gladly, And ten thousands wildly, madly, Swore it should forever wave— Hearts like theirs entwined dissever, And that flag should float forever O’er their freedom or their grave! Furl it! for the hands that grasped it, And the hearts that fondly clasped it, Cold and dead are lying low; And the Banner—it is trailing, While around it sounds the wailing Of its people in their woe. For, though conquered, they adore it— Love the cold, dead hands that bore it! Weep for those who fell before it! Pardon those who trailed and tore it! But, oh, wildly they deplore it, Now who furl and fold it so! Furl that Banner! True, ’tis gory, Yet, ’tis wreathed around with glory, And ’twill live in song and story Though its folds are in the dust! For its fame on brightest pages, Penned by poets and by sages, Shall go sounding down the ages— Furl its folds though now we must. Furl that Banner, softly, slowly; Treat it gently—it is holy, For it droops above the dead; Touch it not—unfold it never; Let it droop there, furled forever,— For its people’s hopes are fled. Abram Joseph Ryan. |
|
