Page:Canadian poems of the great war.djvu/84

 S. Frances Harrison (Seranus)

Mrs J. W. P. Harrison of Toronto. Author of Crowded Out and Other Sketches Pine, Rose and Fleur De Lis The Forest of Bourg-Marie (a novel), In Northern Skies and Other Poems Ring field (a novel), etc. Born in Toronto, February 24th, 1859, daughter of John Byron Riley. Educated in a private school for girls, and later, for two years in Montreal. Ranked in early womanhood as a professional pianist and vocalist. A composer of music. As a poet her fame rests chiefly on her pen pictures, in villanelle form, of French-Canadian character and life. They are unique in their originality and interest.

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��THE MOTHER

UT of the bitter, the sweet;

Out of the pain, the joy; Out of the mists, the morning star;

Out of my travail, my boy.

Out of old flesh, new flesh;

Out of old bone, new bone; Out of my side, my treasure and pride;

My breast his earliest throne.

Stiff in the trenches, and stark;

Dead ere the battle was won : For that which is Right, for Love and Light,

Freely I gave my son.

After the bitter, the sweet;

After the pain, the joy I will not falter, nor flinch, nor faint;

Proudly I give my boy.

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