FORWARD.
|
|
Who
sneers she’s but a colony—
No national spirit there;
Race differences, faction’s feuds
Her flag to tatters tear?
What rises o’er those snowy plains?
|
5 |
What
flouts the Western sky?
Whence on the virgin white those stains?
Whose is that crimson dye?
Rebellion’s ensign blots the blue,
And mars its fretwork gold,
|
10 |
And
near those stains of crimson hue,
Canadian hearts lie cold.
Another ensign! Trumpets ring!
A youth this flag upholds;
And lo! from every side men spring
|
15 |
And
range beneath its folds.
Nor race, nor creed, the patriot’s sword,
Nor faction blunts to-day.
“Forward for Canada!” ’s the word,
And, eager for the fray,
|
20 |
Our youth press on and carpers shame,
Their bearing bold and high,
For this young nation’s peace and fame
Ready to do or die. [Page
136]
They come from hamlet and from town,
|
25 |
From
hill and wood and glade,
From where great palaces look down
On streets that roar with
trade;
From whence by floe and rocky bar,
The Atlantic’s held
in check;
|
30 |
From
where Wolfe’s glory, like a star,
Shines down on old Quebec;
From where Mount Royal rises proud
O’er Cartier’s
city fair;
From where Chaudière with thundercloud,
|
35 |
Flings
high its smoke in air;
From pleasant cities rich and old
That gem Ontario’s
shore;
From where Niagara’s awful plunge
Makes its eternal roar;
|
40 |
From each new town, just sprung to life,
Mid flowery prairies wide;
From where first Riel kindled strife
To Calgary’s rapid
tide
Upon the field, all rancour healed,
|
45 |
There’s
no discordant hue;
The Orange marches with the Green,
The Rouge beside the Bleu.
One purpose now fires every eye,
Rebellion foul to slay,
|
50 |
“Forward
for Canada!” ’s the cry,
And all are one to-day.
[Page 137]
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