Helena Coleman
Miss Helena Coleman of Toronto was born_at Newcastle, Ontario, and educated at home and at Whitby Ladies College. Her father was the late Rev. Francis Coleman of the Methodist ministry. The well-known geologist, Professor A. T. Coleman, Ph.D., F.R.S., is her brother.. Author. of 'Songs and Sonnets,' Marching Men,' etc.
IN FRANCE'S FLOWERED FIELDS
IN France's flowered fields they lie,
And she will hold them close and dear,
Above their graves her trees will sigh,
Her grasses cover them year by year.
They were to us mere laughing boys,
But in the passing of a breath
They turned from life's scarce-tasted joys
To this high majesty of death.
O France, when coming springs shall break
In foam of bloom to hide thy scars,
And flowers of human kindness make
An end of agonies and wars,
Forget not these our sons who came
At that first wild, bewildered cry
With their young British hearts aflame
Upon thy tragic hills to die!
Still have them in thy guarding care,
A holy and a cherished trust,
And let thy children come with prayer
To dream awhile beside their dust;—
To dream of tender love and ruth,
And give a passing thought to these
Who trod the star-lit ways of truth,
Bondsmen of British loyalties!
And since upon thy heart lies now
The richest ransom ever paid—
White roses torn from England's brow
Beside thy broken lilies laid—
46
