Page:Southern Life in Southern Literature.djvu/294

276 Swore that foeman s sword should never Hearts like theirs entwined dissever, Till 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 that 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, t is gory, Yet t is wreathed around with glory, And t will 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 dead!