Poem - My Flag

[Forget-Me-Not]

My Flag

Oh my dear flag, you mean to me

More than I can describe

Emotions deep within my soul

Your beauty doth imbibe

Your splendid colors stand alone

To move the mind and heart

To help us rise above ourselves

And greater things impart

In children's hands you're tightly clasped

As marching bands pass by

You're raised on porch and building front

On mast and tower high

Upon the moon, so far away

Each passing day and night

You stand as silent sentinel

Though far beyond our sight

You've led soldiers into battle

Given courage amidst war

You've been draped, a shroud, on caskets

As our fallen men we bore

You've been the inspiration

To each patriot heart that beats

And when peace has come you've been there

As we danced in city streets

I think of all the lands and seas

Where you have stately flown

Majestic in your quiet strength

A symbol of our home

A home, a land, where we are free

To live and work and love

A land where each is given place

To worship God above

That God, who giveth freedom

To the minds and souls of men

Who would, in wisdom, have us free

To serve a nobler end

My flag, Our Flag, what other sight

Can give the heart such thrill?

For freedom's cause, to us, you live and breathe

And ever will

With tomorrow being flag day I thought I'd share. I've always loved my country's flag from as far back as I can remember as a very small child, but came to write this poem after being asked to write something in honor of it for a flag retiring ceremony in 2002. It was one of the most difficult poems I've done because of the deep emotions it brought on and I wept all through the writing of it. Very emotional writing task.

[pam]

I'm not sure how I missed this earlier. Beautiful, beautiful. I truly loved this one.

[Forget-Me-Not]

Thank you Pam. I'd never had occasion to attend a flag retiring ceremony until the year I was asked to write this poem for one held during a 4th of July celebration. It was a very solemn, moving, thing to witness. One which couldn't help but instill an even deeper love and reverence for our flag and something I wish every American could experience at least once in their lifetime. Here's a link with several boy scout flag retiring ceremonies listed. If anyone has an opportunity to attend one, or has charge of arranging a patriotic program for church or community, I would encourage considering it. Boy Scout Flag Retirement Ceremonies

[Ron65]

I agree with Pam, this is a lovely write, well crafted too.

[Forget-Me-Not]

Thank you :)