Jesse Edgar Middleton (1872–1960)

(Song for Dominion Day)

TOPPING the hill, the long white road

Shimmers in Summer heat.

What shall I find beyond the rise?

Peace and plenty to glad mine eyes,

Sorrow, or black Defeat?

All the way I have come, the grain

Swayed in the languid air,

Clover blushed in a hundred meads,

Dew-drops shone like the diamond beads

Fairies are wont to wear.

Even the rain on my well-browned face

Came but to bless and cheer.

There were song-sparrows whistling gay

All along the celestial way.

Roses were blooming near.

And far away on the snow-capped seas,

Where the porpoise rolls and the petrel runs,

The Red Cross snaps in the mounting breeze

From the low grey ships with the gleamimg guns,

—So I journey on to the distant hill,

And never a foeman bars my will.

Over the rise the way is lost.

Still can my spirit sing.

Over the rise on the road I fare

Are bobolinks in the sunlit air,

And swallows upon the wing.

Peace and roses will joy my soul,

And in the opal morn,

Still shall I see the elm-trees fair,

Still shall I see the Summer air

Swaying the golden corn.

While far away by The Lizard light

Where the gale-lashed billow in fury runs

The Red Cross snaps in the stormy night

From the ghostly ships with the ghostly guns.

—The white road over the distant hill

Is mine, for a peaceful journey still.