| |
| GROWING to full manhood now, | |
| With the care-lines on our brow, | |
| We, the youngest of the nations, | |
| With no childish lamentations, | |
| Weep, as only strong men weep, | 5 |
| For the noble hearts that sleep, | |
| Pillowed where they fought and bled, | |
| The loved and lost, our glorious dead! | |
| |
| Toil and sorrow come with age, | |
| Manhood’s rightful heritage; | 10 |
| Toil our arms more strong shall render, | |
| Sorrow make our heart more tender, | |
| In the heartlessness of time; | |
| Honour lays a wreath sublime— | |
| Deathless glory—where they bled, | 15 |
| Our loved and lost, our glorious dead! | |
| |
| Wild the prairie grasses wave | |
| O’er each hero’s new-made grave; | |
| Time shall write such wrinkles o’er us, | |
| But the future spreads before us | 20 |
| Glorious in that sunset land— | |
| Nerving every heart and hand, | |
| Comes a brightness none can shed, | |
| But the dead, the glorious dead! | |
| |
| Lay them where they fought and fell; | 25 |
| Every heart shall ring their knell, | |
| For the lessons they have taught us, | |
| For the glory they have brought us. | |
| Though our hearts are sad and bowed, | |
| Nobleness still makes us proud— | 30 |
| Proud of light their names shall shed | |
| In the roll-call of our dead! | |
| |
| Growing to full manhood now, | |
| With the care-lines on our brow, | |
| We, the youngest of the nations, | 35 |
| With no childish lamentations, | |
| Weep, as only strong men weep, | |
| For the noble hearts that sleep, | |
| Where the call of duty led, | |
| Where the lonely prairies spread, | 40 |
| Where for us they fought and bled, | |
| Our ever loved and glorious dead! | |
| |
