| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 385. The Eagle of the Blue |
| | | By Herman Melville |
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| ALOFT he guards the starry folds | |
| Who is the brother of the star; | |
| The bird whose joy is in the wind | |
| Exulteth in the war. | |
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| No painted plume—a sober hue, | 5 |
| His beauty is his power; | |
| That eager calm of gaze intent | |
| Foresees the Sibyl’s hour. | |
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| Austere, he crowns the swaying perch, | |
| Flapped by the angry flag; | 10 |
| The hurricane from the battery sings, | |
| But his claw has known the crag. | |
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| Amid the scream of shells, his scream | |
| Runs shrilling; and the glare | |
| Of eyes that brave the blinding sun | 15 |
| The volleyed flame can bear. | |
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| The pride of quenchless strength is his— | |
| Strength which, though chained, avails; | |
| The very rebel looks and thrills— | |
| The anchored Emblem hails. | 20 |
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| Though scarred in many a furious fray, | |
| No deadly hurt he knew; | |
| Well may we think his years are charmed— | |
| The Eagle of the Blue. | |
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