Soul of England

​A delayed (on account of the Easter Octave), but nonetheless blessed Saint George’s Day! A solemnity here in England, St George is also held in high honour in Canada. The Cross of St George was raised by John Cabot in Newfoundland in 1497, during the reign of Henry VII, thus earning its contemporary residents (and those in Labrador also) a provincial holiday! Today St George’s Cross features on four provincial flags, as well as within the Royal Union Flag. So in tribute to my former home of Alberta, here’s a poem in honour of the saint and his English settlers in the True North.

St George that savest England,
Save us who still must go
Where leads thy cross of scarlet
Upon its field of snow.
 
Beyond the life of cities,
Distractions and dismays,
Where mountain shadows measure
The passing of the days.
 
Among the lonely snow-peaks
Where golden morning shines,
Stands thy undaunted outpost
Among the lodge-pole pines–
 
A little stone-built chapel
As modest as can be,
Touched with a loving glory,
To house thy God and thee.
 
Here, where majestic beauty
And inspiration bide,
Be thou, to make us worthy,
Our counsellor and guide.
 
Be with us, Soul of England,
Where the last trail puts forth,
To keep unsoiled forever
The honour of the North.
 
St George’s in the Pines
Bliss Carman FRSC, 1861-1929