A soldier lad lay dreaming,
Near a battlefield one day,
In his mind he was scheming,
How to win victory.
He heard his captain calling,
"Rise and fire rapidly",
Then he began bawling,
"Yes Sir, right away".
Next he charged forth bravely
To meet the enemy
But he was wounded gravely
And lay in misery.
Then he saw the tattered flag
And 'midst a hail of fire,
He rose and took that precious rag,
And proudly waved it higher.
Lo and behold he did succeed,
In rallying his comrades all,
And the courage of his noble deed,
History would recall.
Helen Allan
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-tattered-flag/
