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Home  »  The Oxford Book of Canadian Verse  »  Helena Coleman (1860–1953)

The Oxford Book of Canadian Verse

On the Trail

Helena Coleman (1860–1953)

OH, there ’s nothing like the prairie

When the wind is in your face,

And a thunderstorm is brewing,

And night comes down apace—

’Tis then you feel the wonder

And immensity of space!

Far in the gathering darkness

Against the dying day

The ghostly hills are lying,

The hills that stand for ay—

How in the dusk they glimmer

And palpitate away!

*****

How vast the world and void!

No living thing in sight,

As to the lonely prairie

Comes down the lonely night,

But in your heart what freedom—

What sense of buoyant flight!

Once more the pulses quicken

With life’s exultant pride,

With hope and high ambition,

As on and on you ride,

Till all the old desires

Come galloping beside!

Oh, there ’s nothing like the prairie

When the wind is in your face,

And the boom of distant thunder

Comes rolling up apace—

’Tis then you feel the wonder

And immensity of space!