The Red Flag
Where the quivering lightning flings His arrows from out the clouds, And the howling tempest sings And whistles among the shrouds, 'Tis pleasant, 'tis pleasant to ride Along the foaming brine— Wilt be the Rover's bride? Wilt follow him, lady mine? Hurrah! For the bonny, bonny brine. Amidst the storm and rack, You shall see our galley pass, As a serpent, lithe and black, Glides through the waving grass. As the vulture swift and dark, Down on the ring-dove flies, You shall see the Rovers bark Swoop down upon his prize. Hurrah! For the bonny, bonny prize. Over her sides we dash, We gallop across her deck— Ha! there's a ghastly gash On the merchant-captain's neck— Well shot, well shot, old Ned! Well struck, well struck, black James! Our arms are red, and our foes are dead, And we leave a ship in flames! Hurrah! For the bonny, bonny flames!
Credit
This poem is in the public domain.
About this Poem
From Ballads and Songs (London: Cassell and Company, 1896).
Date Published
07/12/2018