God Save the Flag
Washed in the blood of the brave and the blooming,
Snatched from the altars of insolent foes,
Burning with star-fires, but never consuming,
Flash its broad ribbons of lily and rose.
Vainly the prophets of Baal would rend it,
Vainly his worshippers pray for its fall;
Thousands have died for it, millions defend it,
Emblem of justice and mercy to all;
Justice that reddens the sky with her terrors,
Mercy that comes with her white-handed train,
Soothing all passions, redeeming all errors,
Sheathing the sabre and breaking the chain.
Borne on the deluge of all usurpations,
Drifted our Ark o’er the desolate seas,
Bearing the rainbow of hope to the nations,
Torn from the storm-cloud and flung to the breeze!
God bless the Flag and its loyal defenders,
While its broad folds o’er the battle-field wave,
Till the dim star-wreath rekindle its splendors,
Washed from its stains in the blood of the brave!
~ By Oliver Wendell Holmes
What is he referring to with “Drifted out Ark o’er the desolate seas”?
The Mayflower coming to America!
Who are “the prophets of Baal”?
Those of other nations who do not believe in “one nation under God”.
Why would Mr. Holmes write “sheathing the sabre and breaking the chain.”?
We are a nation that will fight if provoked, but we do desire peace and freedom.
What could “till the dim star-wreath rekindle its splendors” mean?
Perhaps, renewed patriotism stemming from what this country was founded on: liberty and justice for all.
What is “burning with star-fires, but never consuming, flash its broad ribbons of lily and rose” talking about?
It’s a description of the American flag. “Star-fires…never consuming” is referring to the stars on our flag. “Ribbons of lily and rose” are the red and white stripes.
Happy 4th of July!
Confessions of an Alcoholic
Evening discussions with the neighbors can be at times … thought-provoking. I tell Dag that they are a colorful bunch. He relents and we sit. One particular night, we sat out among our neighborhood drunks to ‘shoot the breeze.’
Our discussion turned serious in nature as we talked about a friend of the boys who was taken away from his mother. She is an alcoholic. She hit him and he pushed her, knocking her out cold! He panicked and called 911. He was turned over to the care of his grandparents for the period of one month. Well, that day came and passed. Apparently, his mother did not do what she was required to do.
At that point, the neighbor’s head popped up (you see, it had previously been hanging to her chest with an occasional flicker of a bob), and she exclaimed, “I am an alcoholic!”
Dag: “Well admitting you have a problem is the first step.”
Me: “Neighbor, simple admitting it is obviously not helping. You really should stop lying to yourself!”
Neighbor: Goes back to head-bobbing.
Scooby-Doo prankster eludes Queensland police
SCOOBY-Doo has become one of Queensland’s most wanted after giving police the slip during a reckless track invasion at the Ipswich Cup race day. Read more …
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Panty-Wadding Issues
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