Page:Canada, and other poems by Herbin, John Frederic.djvu/14

ABOVE the glamour of long-dead Romance Attired in gold and dress of every hue, The glitter was not all, for dead did strew The war-torn fields of Italy and France. Stern Valor raised the sword and broke the lance By many an alien wall ; and grasping threw From dying hand its weapon in the dew Of bloody strife. Yet wherefore not advance Thus bold and strong in love, my comrades, here On peaceful plains ; and wherefore not unfold The flag not drenched as yet with battle-stains As proudly for its purity ; and bear The glorious front of union, though the gold And blazonry of courts stir not our veins ? MY home, my loved, my tree-embowered land. So dear art thou I never more would stray ; Contented here to rest in joy alway, Near by such loveliness of sea and strand. Perfected Nature's sweet and mild command, Full of the luxury of night and day, And every season's bounty, all repay '['his loving heart submitting to her hand. Here would I die 'mid scenes that saw me born, And filled ray youthful 'eyes with happy things ; That gave my spirit all the good of breath. My happy day since life's short joyful morn. To this high noon has passed on golden wings ; May all its pleasant light shine on my death t