A Song Of The Day Poem by Cicely Fox Smith

Queen of the waves of ocean,
Sister to stars and dew,
Flung wide to the sun and tempest,
A splendour of scarlet and blue:
Bulwarked by brave men's courage,
Knowing not stain of shame,
Flag of the strong-souled English,
Long may thy lot be fame!

After long years of silence,
After long years of calm,
The thunder afar off warns us
To guard the old flag from harm.
The clouds are piled on the skyline;
The air is heavy with fray:
Sons of the strong-souled English,
Look to your arms to-day!

There are hearts that are bitter with envy
To think of our power's increase;
And a dagger's hid in the fingers
That hold the branch of peace.
There's many a wrong to be righted
When dreamers have said their say;
Sons of the strong-souled English,
Come to the flag to-day!

We have dallied too long with their treaties,
And promises made to break.
When will the play be over,
And the Lion at last awake?
The day draws nigh for our action.
Let them answer us, yea or nay!
Sons of the strong-souled English,
Stand by your guns to-day!