Songs by the Way, by George Washington Doane (1860)

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"Songs by the Way"
The Poetical Writings of the Right Rev. George Washington Doane, D.D., LL.D.

Arranged and Edited by His Son, William Croswell Doane

New York: D. Appleton, 1860.

THE WEDDED FLAGS:
A SONG OF THE ATLANTIC CABLE.

HANG out that glorious old red cross!
     Hang out the stripes and stars!
They faced each other fearlessly,
     In two historic wars.

But now, the ocean circlet binds
     The bridegroom, and the bride:
Old England, young America--
     Display them, side by side.

High up, from Trinity's tall spire,
     We'll fling the banners out
Hear how the world-wide welkin rings,
     With that exulting shout.

Forever wave, those wedded flags,
     As proudly now, they wave
God, for the lands, His love has blessed,
     The beauteous, and the brave.

But, see I the dallying wind, the stars,
     About the cross, has blown
And see, again, the cross, around
     The stars, its folds has thrown.*

Was ever sign so beautiful,
     Hung from the heavens, abroad
Old England, young America,
     For freedom, and for God.

* The English and American flags, displayed together from the spire of Trinity Church, New York, on the day of "the Cable Celebration," were blown across each other in mutual embrace.

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