{
 "id": "henry-van-dyke-jr/who-follow-the-flag",
 "title": "Who Follow the Flag",
 "ordinal": null,
 "subtitle": "Phi Beta Kappa Ode",
 "poet": "Henry van Dyke Jr.",
 "poet_slug": "henry-van-dyke-jr",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "The Poems of Henry Van Dyke",
 "book_slug": "poems",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": 107,
 "container": null,
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1920,
  "venue": "The Poems of Henry Van Dyke (1920)",
  "note": "Taken from the 1920 collected edition. That is the printing this text comes from, not the poem's first appearance: the volume gathers work published from 1897 onward, and which earlier book or magazine printed this poem first has not been established here.",
  "uncertain": true,
  "sources": [
   "https://archive.org/details/poemsofhenryvand00vandrich"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/henry-van-dyke-jr_poetry",
  "file": "poetry.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
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   "https://archive.org/details/poemsofhenryvand00vandrich",
   "https://archive.org/details/buildersotherpoe00vandrich",
   "https://archive.org/details/toilingoffelixan00vandiala",
   "https://archive.org/details/musicotherpoems0000henr_c7v6",
   "https://archive.org/details/poemsnowfirstcol00vanduoft",
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  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-20"
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 237,
  "n_stanzas": 10,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 56,
  "max_indent": 4
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 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "All day long in the city’s canyon-street,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With its populous cliffs alive on either side,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "I saw a river of marching men like a tide",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Flowing after the flag: and the rhythmic beat",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of the drums, and the bugles’ resonant blare",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "Metred the tramp, tramp, tramp of a myriad feet,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "While the red-white-and-blue was fluttering everywhere,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the heart of the crowd kept time to a martial air:",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "O brave flag, O bright flag, O flag to lead the free!",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "The glory of thy silver stars,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Engrailed in blue above the bars",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Of red for courage, white for truth,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Has brought the world a second youth",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "And drawn a hundred million hearts to follow after thee.",
    "indent": 2
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Old Cambridge saw thee first unfurled,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "By Washington’s far-reaching hand,",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "To greet, in Seventy-six, the wintry morn",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of a new year, and herald to the world",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Glad tidings from a Western land⁠—",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "A people and a hope new-born!",
    "indent": 1
   },
   {
    "text": "The double cross then filled thine azure field,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In token of a spirit loath to yield",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The breaking ties that bound thee to a throne.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But not for long thine oriflamme could bear",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That symbol of an outworn trust in kings.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The wind that bore thee out on widening wings",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Called for a greater sign and all thine own⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A new device to speak of heavenly laws",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And lights that surely guide the people’s cause.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Oh, greatly did they hope, and greatly dare,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who bade the stars in heaven fight for them,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And set upon their battle-flag a fair",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "New constellation as a diadem!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Along the blood-stained banks of Brandywine",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The ragged troops were rallied to this sign;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Through Saratoga’s woods it fluttered bright",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Amid the perils of the hard-won fight;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "O’er Yorktown’s meadows broad and green",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "It hailed the glory of the final scene;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And when at length Manhattan saw",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The last invaders’ line of scarlet coats",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Pass Bowling Green, and fill the waiting boats",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And sullenly withdraw,",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "The flag that proudly flew",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Above the battered line of buff and blue,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Marching, with rattling drums and shrilling pipes,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Along the Bowery and down Broadway,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Was this that leads the great parade to-day⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The glorious banner of the stars and stripes.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "First of the flags of earth to dare",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "A heraldry so high;",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "First of the flags of earth to bear",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "The blazons of the sky;",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Long may thy constellation glow,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Foretelling happy fate;",
    "indent": 4
   },
   {
    "text": "Wider thy starry circle grow,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "And every star a State!",
    "indent": 4
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Pass on, pass on, ye flashing files",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of men who march in militant array;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ye thrilling bugles, throbbing drums,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ring out, roll on, and die away;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And fade, ye crowds, with the fading day!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Around the city’s lofty piles",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Of steel and stone",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "The lilac veil of dusk is thrown,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Entangled full of sparks of fairy light;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the never-silent heart of the city hums",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To a homeward-turning tune before the night.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But far above, on the sky-line’s broken height,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "From all the towers and domes outlined",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In gray and gold along the city’s crest,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I see the rippling flag still take the wind",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With a promise of good to come for all mankind.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "O banner of the west,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "No proud and brief parade,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "That glorifies a nation’s holiday",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "With show of troops for warfare dressed,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Can rightly measure or display",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "The mighty army thou hast made",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Loyal to guard thy more than royal sway.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Millions have come across the sea",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "To find beneath thy shelter room to grow;",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Millions were born beneath thy folds and know",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No other flag but thee.",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "And other, darker millions bore the yoke",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of bondage in thy borders till the voice",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of Lincoln spoke,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "And sent thee forth to set the bondmen free.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Rejoice, dear flag, rejoice!",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Since thou hast proved and passed that bitter strife,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Richer thy red with blood of heroes wet,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Purer thy white through sacrificial life,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Brighter thy blue wherein new stars are set.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thou art become a sign,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Revealed in heaven to speak of things divine:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of Truth that dares",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "To slay the lie it sheltered unawares;",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Of Courage fearless in the fight,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Yet ever quick its foemen to forgive;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of Conscience earnest to maintain its right",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And gladly grant the same to all who live.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thy staff is deeply planted in the fact",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "That nothing can ennoble man",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Save his own act,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "And naught can make him worthy to be free",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But practice in the school of liberty.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The cords are two that lift thee to the sky:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Firm faith in God, the King who rules on high;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And never-failing trust",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "In human nature, full of faults and flaws,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Yet ever answering to the inward call",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That bids it set the “ought” above the “must,”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In all its errors wiser than it seems,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In all its failures full of generous dreams,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Through endless conflict rising without pause",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To self-dominion, charactered in laws",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That pledge fair-play alike to great and small,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And equal rights for each beneath the rule of all.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "These are thy halyards, banner bold,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "And while these hold,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Thy brightness from the sky shall never fall,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thy broadening empire never know decrease⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thy strength is union and thy glory peace.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Look forth across thy widespread lands,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "O flag, and let thy stars to-night be eyes",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To see the visionary hosts",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Of men and women grateful to be thine,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That joyfully arise",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "From all thy borders and thy coasts,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And follow after thee in endless line!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They lift to thee a forest of saluting hands;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They hail thee with a rolling ocean-roar",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of cheers; and as the echo dies,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "There comes a sweet and moving song",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of treble voices from the childish throng",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who run to thee from every school-house door.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Behold thine army! Here thy power lies:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The men whom freedom has made strong,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And bound to follow thee by willing vows;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The women greatened by the joys",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Of motherhood to rule a happy house;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The vigorous girls and boys,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Whose eager faces and unclouded brows",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Foretell the future of a noble race,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Rich in the wealth of wisdom and true worth!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "While millions such as these to thee belong,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "What foe can do thee wrong,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "What jealous rival rob thee of thy place",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Foremost of all the flags of earth?",
    "indent": 2
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "My vision darkens as the night descends;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And through the mystic atmosphere",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I feel the creeping coldness that portends",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A change of spirit in my dream",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "The multitude that moved with song and cheer",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Have vanished, yet a living stream",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Flows on and follows still the flag,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "But silent now, with leaden feet that lag",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And falter in the deepening gloom⁠—",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "A weird battalion bringing up the rear.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ah, who are these on whom the vital bloom",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of life has withered to the dust of doom?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "These little pilgrims prematurely worn",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And bent as if they bore the weight of years?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "These childish faces, pallid and forlorn,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Too dull for laughter and too hard for tears?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Is this the ghost of that insane crusade",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That led ten thousand children long ago,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A flock of innocents, deceived, betrayed,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Yet pressing on through want and woe",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To meet their fate, faithful and unafraid?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Nay, for a million children now",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Are marching in the long pathetic line,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With weary step and early wrinkled brow;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And at their head appears no holy sign",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of hope in heaven;",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "For unto them is given",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "No cross to carry, but a cross to drag.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Before their strength is ripe they bear",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The load of labour, toiling underground",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In dangerous mines and breathing heavy air",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of crowded shops; their tender lives are bound",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To service of the whirling, clattering wheels",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That fill the factories with dust and noise;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They are not girls and boys,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "But little “hands” who blindly, dumbly feed",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With their own blood the hungry god of Greed.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Robbed of their natural joys,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "And wounded with a scar that never heals,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They stumble on with heavy-laden soul,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And fall by thousands on the highway lined",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With little graves; or reach at last their goal",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of stunted manhood and embittered age,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To brood awhile with dark and troubled mind,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Beside the smouldering fire of sullen rage,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On life’s unfruitful work and niggard wage.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Are these the regiments that Freedom rears",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To serve her cause in coming years?",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Nay, every life that Avarice doth maim",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And beggar in the helpless days of youth,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Shall surely claim",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "A just revenge, and take it without ruth;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And every soul denied the right to grow",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Beneath the flag, shall be its secret foe.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Bow down, dear land, in penitence and shame!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Remember now thine oath, so nobly sworn,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To guard an equal lot",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "For every child within thy borders born!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "These are thy children whom thou hast forgot:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They have the bitter right to live, but not",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The blessed right to look for happiness.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "O lift thy liberating hand once more,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To loose thy little ones from dark duress;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The vital gladness to their hearts restore",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In healthful lessons and in happy play;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And set them free to climb the upward way",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That leads to self-reliant nobleness.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Speak out, my country, speak at last,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As thou hast spoken in the past,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "And clearly, bravely say:",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "“I will defend",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "The coming race on whom my hopes depend:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Beneath my flag and on my sacred soil",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No child shall bear the crushing yoke of toil.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Look up, look up, ye downcast eyes!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The night is almost gone:",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "Along the new horizon flies",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The banner of the dawn;",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "The eastern sky is banded low",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With white and crimson bars,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "While far above the morning glow",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The everlasting stars.",
    "indent": 2
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "O bright flag, O brave flag, O flag to lead the free!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The hand of God thy colours blent,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "And heaven to earth thy glory lent,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "To shield the weak, and guide the strong",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "To make an end of human wrong,",
    "indent": 2
   },
   {
    "text": "And draw a countless human host to follow after thee!",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ]
 ]
}