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(From Our Own Broad Lake)
WE cannot boast of high green hills, | |
| Of proud, bold cliffs, where eagles gather,— | |
| Of moorland glen and mountain rills, | |
| That echo to the red-belled heather. | |
| We cannot boast of mouldering towers, | 5 |
| Where ivy clasps the hoary turret,— | |
| Of chivalry in ladies’ bowers,— | |
| Of warlike fame, and knights who won it,— | |
| But had we minstrel’s harp to wake, | |
| We well might boast our own broad lake! | 10 |
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| And we have streams that run as clear, | |
| O’er shelvy rocks and pebbles rushing, | |
| And meads as green, and nymphs as dear, | |
| In rosy beauty sweetly blushing; | |
| And we have trees as tall as towers, | 15 |
| And older than the feudal mansion, | |
| And banks besprent with gorgeous flowers, | |
| And glens and woods with fireflies glancing,— | |
| But prouder, loftier boast we make, | |
| The beauties of our own broad lake. | 20 |
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| The lochs and lakes of other lands, | |
| Like gems, may grace a landscape painting, | |
| Or where the lordly castle stands, | |
| May lend a charm when charms are wanting; | |
| But ours is deep and broad and wide, | 25 |
| With steamships through its waves careering, | |
| And far upon its ample tide | |
| The bark its devious course is steering; | |
| While hoarse and loud the billows break | |
| On islands of our own broad lake! | 30 |
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| Immense bright lake! I trace in thee | |
| An emblem of the mighty ocean, | |
| And in thy restless waves I see | |
| Nature’s eternal law of motion; | |
| And fancy sees the Huron Chief | 35 |
| Of the dim past kneel to implore thee,— | |
| With Indian awe he seeks relief | |
| In pouring homage out before thee; | |
| And I, too, feel my reverence wake, | |
| As gazing on our own broad lake! * * * * * | 40 |
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