Sew The Flags Together

Great wave of youth, ere you be spent, Sweep over every monument Of caste, smash every high imperial wall That stands against the new World State, And overwhelm each ravening hate, And heal, and make blood-brothers of us all. Nor let your clamor cease Till ballots conquer guns. Drum on for the world’s peace Till the Tory power is gone. Envenomed lame old age Is not our heritage, But springtime’s vast release, and flaming dawn.

Peasants, rise in splendor And your accounting render Ere the lords unnerve your hand! Sew the flags together. Do not tear them down. Hurl the worlds together. Dethrone the wallowing monster And the clown. Resolving:-- “Only that shall grow In Balkan furrow, Chinese row, That blooms, and is perpetually young.” That only be held fine and dear That brings heart-wisdom year by year And puts this thrilling word upon the tongue: “The United States of Europe, Asia, and the World.”

“Youth will be served,” now let us cry. Hurl the referendum. Your fathers, five long years ago, Resolved to strike, too late. Now Sun-crowned crowds Innumerable, Of boys and girls Imperial, With your patchwork flag of brotherhood On high, With every silk In one flower-banner whirled-- Rise, Citizens of one tremendous state, The United States of Europe, Asia, and the World.

The dawn is rose-drest and impearled. The guards of privilege are spent. The blood-fed captains nod. So Saxon, Slav, French, German, Rise, Yankee, Chinese, Japanese, All the lands, all the seas, With the blazing rainbow flag unfurled, Rise, rise, Take the sick dragons by surprise, Highly establish, In the name of God, The United States of Europe, Asia, and the World.

Written for William Stanley Braithwaite’s Victory Anthology issued at once, after Armistice Day, November, 1918.