THE PATRIOTS

 THE PATRIOTS 

a poem by  EUNICE WARD  

THE burly cannon-cracker to the slender little flag 
Said, "How are you to celebrate the day? 
You never make a single sound, you cannot jump nor shoot, 
And where they put you, there you have to stay."

The rockets, Roman candles, and the giddy, racy wheels 

With patriotic zeal began to brag 

Of how they'd leap and bang and fizz and flare and whirl-and all 

United to deride the silent flag.

But when the day was done, the crackers lay in scattered shreds; 

And bits of wheel were clinging to the trees; 

The rocket sticks were lying prone; but high above the scene, 

The little flag still frolicked with the breeze.

References:

1. St. Nicholas July 1908