Canadian Born ~

 Canadian Poetess, Pauline Johnson recited the following poem on Dominion Day, July 1, 1804 in London, England.

We first saw light in Canada, the land beloved of God,
We are the pulse of Canada, its marrow and its bloos:
And we, the men of Canada, can face the world and brag
That we were born in Canada beneath the British flag.

Few of us have the blood of kings, few are of courtly birth,
But few are vagabonds or rogues of doubtful name and worth,
And all have one credential that entitles us to brag~
That we were born in Canada beneath the British flag.

We've yet to make our money, we've yet to make our fame,
But we have gold and glory in our clean colonial name;
And every man's a millionaire if only he can brag
That he was born in Canada beneath the British flag.

The Dutch may have their Holland, the Spaniard have his Spain,
The Yankee to the south of us must south of us remain;
For not a man dare lift his hand against the men who brag
That they were born in Canada beneath the British flag.

~ Flint & Feather, The Life and Times of E. Pauline Johnson, Tekahionwake,
Charlotte Gray, Harper Flamingo Canada, 2002, A Phyllis Bruce Book.