THE PINE-TREE FLAG

Our woodsbred northern women (There were no weaklings there: Maine, Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, their glory share; They were New England women, as brave as they were fair)— Our woodsbred northern women (They sent their sires and sons, The husbands of their bosoms, their well-beloved ones, To dare the foeman’s anger and to face the foeman’s guns)— Our woodsbred northern women (whose men went forth to war) Wove ’mid the woods a banner their bairns and brothers bore, Wove ’mid the woods a banner to carry on before. Our woodsbred northern women wove not in red or gold; There were no stripes of crimson, no constellations bold; It was a simpler pattern their aspirations told. Our woodsbred northern women a simpler flag disclose; Upon the snowy linen like their New England snows, By women’s hands embroidered, a single pine-tree rose. Our woodsbred northern women knew naught of warlike things, The bloody skill of soldiers, the heavy pomp of kings; They knew no better music than that the pine-tree sings. Our woodsbred northern women (There were no weaklings there) Wove not a blood-red banner for sire and son to bear— But northern snow, and pine-tree, and purity, and pray’r. Our woodsbred northern women (whose men went forth to war) Sent them not forth in passion to fight on sea and shore But with a holy purpose gave up the sons they bore. Our woodsbred northern women, no more against the skies Your strange, unwarlike banner in cause or conflict flies; But we see your souls courageous in your children’s children’s eyes.