Furl that Banner, for 'tis weary; <br />Round its staff 'tis drooping dreary; <br />Furl it, fold it, it is best; <br />For there's not a man to wave it, <br />And there's not a sword to save it, <br />And there's no one left to lave it <br />In the blood that heroes gave it; <br />And its foes now scorn and brave it; <br />Furl it, hide it-let it rest! <br /> <br />Take that banner down! 'tis tattered; <br />Broken is its shaft and shattered; <br />And the valiant hosts are scattered <br />Over whom it floated high. <br />Oh! 'tis hard for us to fold it; <br />Hard to think there's none to hold it; <br />Hard that those who once unrolled it <br />Now must furl it with a sigh. <br /> <br />Furl that banner! furl it sadly! <br />Once ten thousands hailed it gladly. <br />And ten thousands wildly, madly, <br />Swore it should forever wave; <br />Swore that foeman's sword should never <br />Hearts like theirs entwined dissever, <br />Till that flag should float forever <br />O'er their freedom or their grave! <br /> <br />Furl it! for the hands that grasped it, <br />And the hearts that fondly clasped it, <br />Cold and dead are lying low; <br />And that Banner-it is trailing! <br />While around it sounds the wailing <br />Of its people in their woe. <br /> <br />For, though conquered, they adore it! <br />Love the cold, dead hands that bore it! <br />Weep for those who fell before it! <br />Pardon those who trailed and tore it! <br />But, oh! wildly they deplored it! <br />Now who furl and fold it so. <br /> <br />Furl that Banner! True, 'tis gory, <br />Yet 'tis wreathed around with glory, <br />And 'twill live in song and story, <br />Though its folds are in the dust; <br />For its fame on brightest pages, <br />Penned by poets and by sages, <br />Shall go sounding down the ages- <br />Furl its folds though now we must. <br /> <br />Furl that banner, softly, slowly! <br />Treat it gently-it is holy- <br />For it droops above the dead. <br />Touch it not-unfold it never, <br />Let it droop there, furled forever, <br />For its people's hopes are dead!<br /><br />Abram Joseph Ryan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-conquered-banner/
