Friday, March 13, 2009

The Red Flag - Jim Connell

The poem I was referring to in previous post is The Red Flag - Jim Connell

The people's flag is deepest red
It shrouded oft our martyred dead
And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold
Their hearts blood dyed its every fold

Then raise the scarlet standard high
Within its shade we'll live and die
Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer
We'll keep the red flag flying here

Look round, the frenchman loves its blaze
The sturdy german chants its praise
In Moscow's vaults its hymns are sung
Chicago swells the surging throng

It waved above our infant might
When all ahead seemed dark as night
It witnessed many a deed and vow
We must not change its color now

It well recalls the triumphs past
It gives the hope of peace at last
The banner bright, the symbol plain
Of human right and human gain

It suits today the weak and base
Whose minds are fixed on pelf and place
To cringe before the rich man's frown
And haul the sacred emblem down

With heads uncovered swear we all
To bear it onward till we fall
Come dungeons dark or gallows grim
This song shall be our parting hymn

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