The Oxford Book of Canadian Verse
Empire FirstJohn Talon-Lespérance (1835–1891)
S
And pledge us to an alien love?
No! We hold our faith and truth,
Trusting to the God above.
Stand, Canadians, firmly stand
Round the flag of fatherland!
Britain nursed us at our birth,
Britain reared us to our rank
’Mid the nations of the earth.
Stand, Canadians, firmly stand
Round the flag of fatherland!
In the gathering of the storm,
Britain raised above our head
Her broad shield and sheltering arm.
Stand, Canadians, firmly stand
Round the flag of fatherland!
O sea-girt Island of the free,
O Empire of the land and wave,
Our hearts, our hands, are all for thee!
Stand, Canadians, firmly stand
Round the flag of fatherland!