Page:Canadian poems of the great war.djvu/253

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��Albert Durrant Watson

Author of The Sovereignty of Character: Lessons from the Lift of Jesus The Wing of the Wild-Bird Love and the Universe, the Immortals and Other Poems Heart of the Hills etc. A transcendental and reflective poet with a big message, revealed by his interpretations of God and men. Born in Dixie, county of Peel, Ontario, January 8th, 1859, youngest son of William Youle and Mary A. (Aldred) Watson. Educated at Victoria and Edin burgh Universities (M.D.; L.R.C.P.). Ex-President of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. President of the Psychical Research Society of Canada. Dr. Watson is a practising physi cian in Toronto.

FREEDOM THOUSAND million eager marching feet

Go thundering onward to the lethean shore, While upward through the human birth-gates beat A thousand million more.

Ye who take up the instrument of life, Think not your heritage of joy was won

Without the waging of eternal strife Beneath the wistful sun.

Your fathers challenged life with faith so vast Achievement stands their monumental creed;

They sought no vindication from the past Save in immortal deed. x

O sacred Freedom, in life s holy war,

We pay thy cost however great it be, Though ruined cities all the earth should scar

And ships go down at sea !

Then dare the billow and the fourfold blast, Let each last reef and pennant be unfurled;

What though great Freedom cost us at the last The wrecking of a world !

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