The Red Flag

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Red Poppy
Posts: 1262
Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:30 pm
Location: Ireland

The Red Flag

Post by Red Poppy »

Perhaps not quite poetry, but important in its own way and apt for the day that's in it:


The people's flag is deepest red,
It shrouded oft our martyred dead,
And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold,
Their hearts blood dyed its every fold.
Then raise the scarlet standard high.

Within its shade we'll live and die,
Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,
We'll keep the red flag flying here.

Look round, the Frenchman loves its blaze,
The sturdy German chants its praise,
In Moscow's vaults its hymns are sung
Chicago swells the surging throng.

It waved above our infant might,
When all ahead seemed dark as night;
It witnessed many a deed and vow,
We must not change its colour now.

It well recalls the triumphs past,
It gives the hope of peace at last;
The banner bright, the symbol plain,
Of human right and human gain.

It suits today the weak and base,
Whose minds are fixed on pelf and place
To cringe before the rich man's frown,
And haul the sacred emblem down.

With heads uncovered swear we all
To bear it onward till we fall;
Come dungeons dark or gallows grim,
This song shall be our parting hymn.
jill
Posts: 55
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2007 7:52 pm

Re: The Red Flag

Post by jill »

Thanks red poppy. What an appropriate poem for this fifth anniversary of mission accomplished.

For those like me,unfamiliar with the poem/song , it is , according to Wikopedia, "The Red Flag" by James Connell, the song of the British Labour party,
I don't know if it is true or not, but they say that the song, is also known as Tannenbaum or o Christmas Tree.

Jill
Red Poppy
Posts: 1262
Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:30 pm
Location: Ireland

Re: The Red Flag

Post by Red Poppy »

It shares a tune with that song!
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MFL
Posts: 413
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2007 10:48 pm
Location: Ireland

Re: The Red Flag

Post by MFL »

Red Poppy wrote:It shares a tune with that song!
It may share a tune, But I don't think you two are singing off the same hymn sheet. :?
Marcie
Red Poppy
Posts: 1262
Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:30 pm
Location: Ireland

Re: The Red Flag

Post by Red Poppy »

............nor do they necessarily congregate in the same church.............even if it is a broad one........
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