The Oxford Book of Canadian Verse
Between the BattlesFrancis Joseph Sherman (18711926)
L
Where the maples are red!
He is dead,
And he died thanking God that he fell with the fall of the leaf and the year.
Let it echo our tread
Who he led;
Let us follow as gladly as ever we followed who never knew fear.
Yet they heard his last cheer
Ringing clear,—
When we lifted him up, he would fain have pursued, but grew dizzy instead.
Let this last prayer be said
By the bed
We have made underneath the wet wind in the maple trees moaning so drear:—
Sullen end of the year
That is here,
We beseech Thee to guide us and strengthen our swords till his slayers be dead!’