Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass. 32. From Noon to Starry Night. 18. Thick-Sprinkled Bunting

Thick-sprinkled bunting! flag of stars!
Long yet your road, fateful flag--long yet your road, and lined with
      bloody death,
For the prize I see at issue at last is the world,
All its ships and shores I see interwoven with your threads greedy
      banner;
Dream'd again the flags of kings, highest borne, to flaunt unrival'd?
O hasten flag of man--O with sure and steady step, passing highest
      flags of kings,
Walk supreme to the heavens mighty symbol--run up above them all,
Flag of stars! thick-sprinkled bunting!