Union and Liberty in  General   

FLAG of the heroes who left us their glory,
Borne through their battle-fields' thunder and flame,
Blazoned in song and illumined in story,
Wave o'er us all who inherit their fame!

Up with our banner bright,
Sprinkled with starry light,
Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore,
While through the sounding sky
Loud rings the Nation's cry,
UNION AND LIBERTY! ONE EVERMORE!

Light of our firmament, guide of our Nation,
Pride of her children, and honored afar,
Let the wide beams of thy full constellation
Scatter each cloud that would darken a star!

Up with our banner bright,
Sprinkled with starry light,
Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore,
While through the sounding sky
Loud rings the Nation's cry,
UNION AND LIBERTY! ONE EVERMORE!

Empire unsceptred! what foe shall assail thee,
Bearing the standard of Liberty's van?
Think not the God of thy fathers shall fail thee,
Striving with men for the birthright of man!

Up with our banner bright,
Sprinkled with starry light,
Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore,
While through the sounding sky
Loud rings the Nation's cry,
UNION AND LIBERTY! ONE EVERMORE!

Yet if, by madness and treachery blighted,
Dawns the dark hour when the sword thou must draw,
Then with the arms of thy millions united,
Smite the bold traitors to Freedom and Law!

Up with our banner bright,
Sprinkled with starry light,
Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore,
While through the sounding sky
Loud rings the Nation's cry,
UNION AND LIBERTY! ONE EVERMORE!

Lord of the Universe! shield us and guide us,
Trusting Thee always, through shadow and sun!
Thou hast united us, who shall divide us?
Keep us, oh keep us the MANY IN ONE!

Up with our banner bright,
Sprinkled with starry light,
Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore,
While through the sounding sky
Loud rings the Nation's cry,
UNION AND LIBERTY! ONE EVERMORE!

By Oliver Wendell Holmes

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Other poems by Oliver Wendell Holmes:

• A Familiar Letter
• A Farewell to Agassiz
• A Parody on “A Psalm of Life”
• Bill and Joe
• Cacoethes Scribendi
• Contentment
• Daily Trials by a Sensitive Man
• Dorothy Q.
• For the Moore Centennial Celebration
• Martha
• My Aviary
• Old Ironsides
• Poem (Halleck monument dedication)
• Sun and Shadow
• The Boys
• The Chambered Nautilus
• The Dorchester Giant
• The Flaâneur
• The Flower of Liberty
• The Height of the Ridiculous
• The Iron Gate
• The Last Leaf
• The Living Temple
• The Old Man Dreams
• The Opening of the Piano
• The Organ-Blower
• The September Gale
• The Silent Melody
• The Two Streams
• The Voiceless
• Under the Violets
• Union and Liberty
• Æstivation