This Canada of Ours / J.D. Edgar

This Canada of Ours

(A national song)

Let other tongues in older lands
    Loud vaunt their claims to glory,
And chaunt in triumph of the past,
    Content to live in story.
Tho' boasting no baronial halls,
    Nor ivy-crested towers,
What past can match thy glorious youth,
        Fair Canada of ours?
                Fair Canada,
                Dear Canada,
        This Canada of ours!

We love those far-off ocean Isles,
    Where Britain's monarch reigns;
 We'll ne'er forget the good old blood
    That courses through our veins;
Proud Scotia's fame, old Erin's name,
    And haughty Albion's powers,
Reflect their matchless lustre on
        This Canada of ours.
                Fair Canada,
                Dear Canada,
        This Canada of ours!

May our Dominion flourish then,
    A goodly land and free,
Where Celt and Saxon, hand in hand,
    Hold sway from sea to sea;
Strong arms shall guard our cherished homes,
    When darkest danger lowers,
And with our life-blood we'll defend
        This Canada of ours.
                Fair Canada,
                Dear Canada,
        This Canada of ours!

~~
J.D. Edgar (1841-1899)
from This Canada of Ours, and other poems, 1893

[Poem is in the public domain worldwide]

J.D.Edgar biography