LAND where the banners wave last in the sun, <br />Blazoned with star-clusters, many in one, <br />Floating o'er prairie and mountain and sea; <br />Hark! 't is the voice of thy children to thee! <br /> <br />Here at thine altar our vows we renew <br />Still in thy cause to be loyal and true,-- <br />True to thy flag on the field and the wave, <br />Living to honor it, dying to save! <br /> <br />Mother of heroes! if perfidy's blight <br />Fall on a star in thy garland of light, <br />Sound but one bugle-blast! Lo! at the sign <br />Armies all panoplied wheel into line! <br /> <br />Hope of the world! thou'hast broken its chains,-- <br />Wear thy bright arms while a tyrant remains, <br />Stand for the right till the nations shall own <br />Freedom their sovereign, with Law for her throne! <br /> <br />Freedom! sweet Freedom! our voices resound, <br />Queen by God's blessing, unsceptred, uncrowned! <br />Freedom, sweet Freedom, our pulses repeat, <br />Warm with her life-blood, as long as they beat! <br /> <br />Fold the broad banner-stripes over her breast,-- <br />Crown her with star-jewels Queen of the West! <br />Earth for her heritage, God for her friend, <br />She shall reign over us, world without end!<br /><br />Oliver Wendell Holmes<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/freedom-or-queen/
