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 ‘Ringfield’ (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.
THE MOTHER
OUT 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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