Canada, and Other Poems/Promise
For works with similar titles, see Promise.
Promise.
WHAT fairer sky and lands than these Promote a subject's weal?What clime more blessed of liberal earth May other days reveal?What riper age, what fitter time, To make a nation grow,Can years present to willing men, Or favoring chance bestow?
The day is come, the men are born Whose kingdom hath begun;A nation enters on the field Of labors yet undone—A nation set on earth so vast Its day must linger long;And the bright sun that makes it fair Will make the people strong.Along the country's hills and plains, The cities yet to riseI see like shadows broad and dense Beneath the lower skies.Far up the North where verdureless The whaler finds the shore;Beside the oceans East and West Whence favoring currents pour,This age-protected land awakes On every mount and plain;The thrill of purpose high and good Bestirs the hearts of men.No weakling bends to servitude, Or heedless of his toil,Looks for a rank, spontaneous growth On this ambitious soil.Yet youthful, under strifeless skies, To bloodless colors bound,No foe has fallen on our dust To mark a battle-ground.A restless spirit stirs them, yet Untried in battle-fields,What motto valor dare emblaze Upon their dintless shields.