Canada And Other Poems Part 18

The chilly days of March are here, The raw, cold winds are blowing; All nature now, is bleak and drear, But piercing winds and frosts are going.

But frosts nor snows, nor biting blast, Can chill the warmth within each heart, When comes around the day at last, To sainted mem'ry set apart.

For many centuries thy name, St. Patrick, has been warmly bless'd, And many more thy righteous fame Shall animate each Christian breast.

Each Christian, and each patriot, too, Shall celebrate for years, the day, And show the world that they are true To virtuous worth, long pa.s.s'd away.

Oh, Ireland! for many years Unhappy thou hast been, and sore, But long, we're thankful thro' our tears, Sweet songs have sounded from thy sh.o.r.e.

While other lands in bitter strife Fought wildly for kings.h.i.+p or gold, The words of peace, the way of life, Within fair Ireland were told.

The Druid priests their rites forbore, And listen'd to the words that fell From Patrick's pious lips, as o'er The land he told his story well.

His lips told of the way of life; His self-denying actions, too, Enforc'd the truth, where all was rife With wrongful rites of darken'd hue.

The people listen'd to his voice, And learn'd to love the faith he taught; When fruits arose in after years, They bless'd the name of him who wrought.

Who wrought successfully to place Religion's fight within the land-- A benefit to all his race, At home, or on a foreign strand.

Religion's flight shone clear and bright, And then the lesser lights appear'd; Learning arose with quiet might, And simple minds it rais'd and cheer'd.

Old Tara's heathen temple rung With sounds, whose waves are rolling yet, From which unmeasur'd good has sprung, Which grateful hearts will not forget.

The triple leaf--St. Patrick's flow'r-- Long may it grow, long may it bear Those symbols of the mighty Pow'r, That rules the sea, the earth, the air.

The Shamrock! may our hearts entwine, And meet in one, as it, tho' three; And may your patron Saint, and mine, Our patron saint forever be.

THE END.