Poem of the Week
PotW.org
Founded August 1996
<   PotW #270   >
This Week's Poem

Past Poems...
...by Poet
...by Title and First Line
...by Occasion

Contact about...
...Free Subscription
...Submitting a Poem
...other Questions

The Fine Print...
...Copyright Information
...Page Mission
...Privacy Policy

Links to...
...other Poetry Sites


 

 

        John Philip Sousa (1854-1932)

          The Stars and Stripes Forever

    Let martial note in triumph float,
    And liberty extend its mighty hand,
    A flag appears 'Mid thund'rous cheers,
    The banner of the Western land.
    The emblem of the brave and true,
    Its folds protect no tyrant crew,
    The red and white and starry blue,
    Is Freedom's shield and hope.

    Other nations may deem their flags the best
    And cheer them with fervid elation,
    But the flag of the North and South and West
    Is the flag of flags, The flag of Freedom's nation.

    Hurrah for the flag of the free,
    May it wave as our standard forever,
    The gem of the land and the sea,
    The Banner of the Right.
    Let despots remember the day
    When our fathers with mighty endeavor,
    Proclaim'd as they march'd to the fray,
    That by their might And by their right,
    It waves forever!

    Let eagle shriek From lofty peak
    The never-ending watchword of our land.
    Let summer breeze Waft through the trees
    The echo of the chorus grand.
    Sing out for liberty and light,
    Sing out for freedom and the right,
    Sing out for Union and its might,
    Oh, patriotic sons!

    Other nations may deem their flags the best
    And cheer them with fervid elation,
    But the flag of the North and South and West
    Is the flag of flags, The flag of Freedom's nation.

    Hurrah for the flag of the free,
    May it wave as our standard forever,
    The gem of the land and the sea,
    The Banner of the Right.
    Let despots remember the day
    When our fathers with mighty endeavor,
    Proclaim'd as they march'd to the fray,
    That by their might And by their right,
    It waves forever!

 


Composed in 1896, The Stars and Stripes Forever is the National March of the United States of America (U.S. Code Title 36, Chapter 3). It can be found in:
  • Sousa, John Philip. The Stars and Stripes Forever! Song. New York: The John Church Company, 1898.