Emily Pauline Johnson (1861–1913)

HALIFAX sits on her hills by the sea

In the might of her pride,—

Invincible, terrible, beautiful, she

With a sword at her side.

To right and to left of her, battlements rear

And fortresses frown;

While she sits on her throne without favour or fear,

With her cannon as crown.

Coast-guard and sentinel, watch of the weal

Of a nation she keeps;

But her hand is encased in a gauntlet of steel,

And her thunder but sleeps.