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Ontario Readers Third Book, The

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<h2>A SONG OF CANADA</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Sing me a song of the great Dominion! Soul-felt words for a patriot's ear! Ring out boldly the well-turned measure, Voicing your notes that the world may hear; Here is no starveling—Heaven-forsaken— Shrinking aside where the Nations throng; Proud as the proudest moves she among them— Worthy is she of a noble song! </div> <div class="stanza"> Sing me the might of her giant mountains, Baring their brows in the dazzling blue; Changeless alone, where all else changes, Emblems of all that is grand and true: Free, as the eagles around them soaring; Fair, as they rose from their Maker's hand: Shout, till the snow-caps catch the chorus— The white-topp'd peaks of our mountain land. </div> <div class="stanza"> Sing me the calm of her tranquil forests, Silence eternal, and peace profound, In whose great heart's deep recesses Breaks no tempest, and comes no sound; Face to face with the deathlike stillness, Here, if at all, man's soul might quail: Nay! 'tis the love of that great peace leads us Thither, where solace will never fail! </div> <div class="stanza"> Sing me the pride of her stately rivers, Cleaving their way to the far-off sea; Glory of strength in their deep-mouth'd music— Glory of mirth in their tameless glee. Hark! 'tis the roar of the tumbling rapids; Deep unto deep through the dead night calls; Truly, I hear but the voice of Freedom Shouting her name from her fortress walls! </div> <div class="stanza"> Sing me the joy of her fertile prairies, League upon league of the golden grain: Comfort, housed in the smiling homestead— Plenty, throned on the lumbering wain. Land of Contentment! May no strife vex you, Never war's flag on your plains be unfurl'd; Only the blessings of mankind reach you— Finding the food for a hungry world! </div> <div class="stanza"> Sing me the charm of her blazing camp fires; Sing me the quiet of her happy homes, Whether afar 'neath the forest arches, Or in the shade of the city's domes; Sing me her life, her loves, her labours; All of a mother a son would hear; For when a lov'd one's praise is sounding, Sweet are the strains to the lover's ear. </div> <div class="stanza"> Sing me the worth of each Canadian, Roamer in wilderness—toiler in town— Search earth over you'll find none stancher, Whether his hands be white or brown; Come of a right good stock to start with, Best of the world's blood in each vein; Lords of ourselves, and slaves to no one, For us or from us, you'll find we're—MEN! </div> <div class="stanza"> Sing me the song, then; sing it bravely; Put your soul in the words you sing; Sing me the praise of this glorious country— Clear on the ear let the deep notes ring. Here is no starveling—Heaven-forsaken— Crouching apart where the Nations throng; Proud as the proudest moves she among them— Well is she worthy a noble song! </div> </div> Robert Reid <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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