This Canada of ours and other poems/Arouse Ye, Brave Canadians
AROUSE YE, BRAVE CANADIANS!
Lines suggested by General Brock's stirring appeal to the people of Upper Canada at the opening of the War of 1812.
Canadian arms are stout and strong,
Canadian hearts are true;
Your homes were in the forest made,
Where pine and maple grew.
A haughty foe is marching
Your country to enthral;
Arouse ye, brave Canadians,
And answer to my call!
Let every man who swings an axe,
Or follows at the plough,
Abandon farm and homestead,
And grasp a rifle now!
We'll trust the God of Battles,
Although our force be small;
Arouse ye, brave Canadians,
And answer to my call!
Let mothers, though with breaking hearts,
Give up their gallant sons;
Let maidens bid their lovers go,
And wives their dearer ones!
Then rally to the frontier,
And form a living wall;
Arouse ye, brave Canadians,
And answer to my call!