No. 3 Patriotic Poems.
The New Constellation----The Confederate Flag.
Quam fluctus diversi, Quam more conjuncti: “Distinct as the billows, but one as the sea.”
Dedicated to the Soldiers of the Confederacy.
By Henry Keeling.
Hail! fair constellation, rich gem of the night,
True beauty and grandeur are thine,
And great is thy mission, from far worlds of light,
On regions of darkness to shine;
Thy stars are the emblems of Commonwealths free,
Distinct as the billows, but one as the sea.
Each star of thy cluster contains of its own
Vast fountains of all that is bright,
Combined in their lustre, confed’rate became,
They bathe in an ocean of light;
Confederate, yet separate, their limits must be
Distinct as the billows, but one as the sea.
Attraction, repulsion, position combine,
Thy beauty and strength to secure,
May no sad revolution of nature be thine,
While nature herself shall endure;
Thy cov’nant forever, unchanged may it be,
Distinct as the billows, but one as the sea.
Bright stars of the evening, thrice welcome, all hail!
Companions ye are of the night,
Forbidding her darkness on earth to prevail,
By pouring forth fountains of light,
On every meridian where mortals may be;
Distinct as the billows, but one as the sea.
Bright stars of the morning, thrice welcome, all hail!
Ye harbingers are of the sun,
In glory returning, nor ever to fail,
While earth in her orbit shall run;
The lights of your circle forever must be
Distinct as the billows, but one as the sea.
Through day and night ever ye brilliant are;
For each of yourselves is a sun,
Around which forever, wheels many a star,
Rejoicing its circuit to run.
All nations such glory the sharers must be,
Distinct as the billows, but one as the sea.
Go, beautiful banner, thy rights to maintain,
Not one for a moment to yield;
Go forth but to conquer in Liberty’s name,
Her helmet, her sword, and her shield;
Thy stars are the emblems of Commonwealths free—
Distinct as the billows, but one as the sea.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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