This poem, which was dedicated to Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts Fifty-Fourth in the June 13, 1863 issue of Harper's Weekly, is a hopeful one about the "Stars and Stripes" beginning to represented what it was intended to : freedom and equality for all races.

The first stanza talks about it "shining far" on "every people" to bring its "promise" of justice to all. The second is also in the same vain, the day for justice has finally "dawned." Dawn is when the light is just barely overtaking the light to start a new day. And the poet says something along those lines in the next stanza. There are still "many an hour of storm and cloud" before the full light of freedom and justice has arrived.

The author realizes that it won't be in their lifetime that this occurs ("not for us that noontide glow") but rather in their children's. Clearly a very astute observation on the author's part.

Finally the last part seems to be saying that even though it's going to be a tough road, America needs to stick to the path. The rest of the world needs to look at us and see that what we're doing is worthy and follow it if they haven't already.

The poet here might not have been aware of the Battle of Fort Wagner, but that doesn't change the importance of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment (and Robert Gould Shaw's place in it) to the him or her. Just the fact that America was finally giving a chance to a group of black men to show that they were just as much men as anyone. The United States was acting out what the Flag was meant to represent – freedom, equality, justice for "all men" – and even allowing black men to carry and fight under it.

The Flag

At last, at last, each glowing star
In that pure field of heavenly blue,
On every people shining far,
Burns, to its utmost promise true.

Hopes in our fathers' hearts that stirred;
Justice, the seal of peace, long scorned:
Oh, perfect peace, too long deferred,
At last, at last, your day has dawned.

Your day has dawned, but many an hour
Of storm and cloud, of doubt and tears,
Across the eternal sky must lower
Before the glorious noon appears.

And not for us that noontide glow:
For us the strife and toil shall be;
But welcome toil, for now we know
Our children shall that glory see.

At last, at last, oh, Stars and Stripes!
Touched in your birth by Freedom's flame!
Your purifying lightning wipes
Out from our history its shame.

Stand to your faith, America!
Sad Europe, listen to our call!
Up to your manhood, Africa!
That gracious flag floats over all.

Pure as its white the future see;
Bright as its red is now the sky;
Fixed as its stars the faith shall be
That nerves our hands to do or die.

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