Page:Canadian poems of the great war.djvu/80

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Katherine Hale

A myriad-mingled sound of many men.
This, and a strange new vision of the heart,
A love just dawning, an age-old surprise,
A sudden turning to those splendid arms
That are forever open.
Thus we came Broken by war, home to her splendid arms.

THE MOTHER

My Son sails high—
His Ocean, azure air:
He in the shining sky—
And swift Death everywhere.

His ardent youth
Explores a strange new sea
As if even Death, forsooth,
Were rare good company.

And my dear heart,
Each moment that you fly Is a dull eon apart
In my soul's agony.

This autumn wind
Treacherous, hungry,—chill,
Those laughing wings may find
And rend, and still.

The earth-force, strong,
Ready to lure your bark,
May hum a homing-song
And draw you to the dark.

O golden Fire,
Whose course is never run,
Outshine all dark desire
And keep my son!

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