LESSON 54 THE AUSTRALIAN FLAG

THE AUSTRALIAN FLAG

SIR HENRY PARKES (1815-1896), Australian statesman; born in Warwickshire; edited The Empire newspaper; wrote several short poems.

FLING out the flag—our virgin flag—

Which foeman’s shot has never rent,

And plant it high on mount and crag,

O’er busy town and lonely tent;

Where commerce rears her stately halls [1] ,

And where the miner rends the rock,

Where the sweet rain on cornfield falls,

Where pastures feed the herd and flock.

Still let it float o’er homes of peace,

Our starry cross [2] —our glorious sign!

While Nature’s bounteous gifts increase,

And freedom’s glories brighter shine!

Brave hearts may beat in labour’s strife,

They need no spur of martial pride [3] ;

High deeds may crown a gentle life,

And spread their radiance far and wide.

Fling out the flag, and guard it well!

Our pleasant fields the foe ne’er trod;

Long may our guardian heroes dwell

In league with truth, in camp with God.

In other lands, the patriot boasts

His standard borne through slaughter’s flood,

Which, waving o’er infuriate hosts,

Was consecrate [4] in fire and blood.

A truer charm [5] our flag endears;

Where’er it waves, on land or sea,

It bears no stain of blood and tears—

Its glory is its purity.

—SIR HENRY PARKES

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[1] commerce rears her stately halls—i.e., by the building of trading centres, cities, or large towns.

[2] our starry cross: The Southern Cross.

[3] martial pride: Pomp and ceremony of war.

[4] was consecrate: Was made holy.

[5] a truer charm: The poet means that the Australian flag is dearer to us because it is free from bloodshed.