The Flower Of Liberty Poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes

The Flower Of Liberty

Rating: 3.1


WHAT flower is this that greets the morn,
Its hues from Heaven so freshly born?
With burning star and flaming band
It kindles all the sunset land:
Oh tell us what its name may be,--
Is this the Flower of Liberty?

It is the banner of the free,
The starry Flower of Liberty!

In savage Nature's far abode
Its tender seed our fathers sowed;
The storm-winds rocked its swelling bud,
Its opening leaves were streaked with blood,
Till lo! earth's tyrants shook to see
The full-blown Flower of Liberty!

Then hail the banner of the free,
The starry Flower of Liberty!

Behold its streaming rays unite,
One mingling flood of braided light,--
The red that fires the Southern rose,
With spotless white from Northern snows,
And, spangled o'er its azure, see
The sister Stars of Liberty!

Then hail the banner of the free,
The starry Flower of Liberty!

The blades of heroes fence it round,
Where'er it springs is holy ground;
From tower and dome its glories spread;
It waves where lonely sentries tread;
It makes the land as ocean free,
And plants an empire on the sea!

Then hail the banner of the free,
The starry Flower of Liberty!

Thy sacred leaves, fair Freedom's flower,
Shall ever float on dome and tower,
To all their heavenly colors true,
In blackening frost or crimson dew,--
And God love us as we love thee,
Thrice holy Flower of Liberty!

Then hail the banner of the free,
The starry FLOWER OF LIBERTY!

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Sylvia Frances Chan 23 April 2023

CONGRATULATIONS for the Classic Poem Of The Day. Excellent choice! Top Marks!

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 23 April 2023

Then hail the banner of the free, The starry FLOWER OF LIBERTY! An excellent Anaphora poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes

0 0 Reply
Phillis 05 January 2021

Wheatly

0 0 Reply
Aftab Alam Khursheed 28 January 2015

Very abrupt yet soft lines are killing - WHAT flower is this that greets the morn, Its hues from Heaven so freshly born? long live the flower of liberty

3 1 Reply
Kim Barney 28 January 2015

Nice rhythm to it. Would make a good song.

3 3 Reply
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