A Canadian Trooper To His Horse

By Helen Leah Reed

        Rest here, my horse, the night is dull, - the blood-sick stars are gone,         Listen, for thou like me wert bred in far Saskatchewan.         And this September night at home, under a happier sky,         The bursting yellow sheaves upon the unbounded prairie lie.         Bread, bread - the staff and stay of life - 'tis what the wheatlands yield;         But only death and agony are gathered from this field.         There's respite now, but ah! good friend, before another day,         Although our bodies may be here, we, we, how far away!         We've ridden many a weary mile, together we have fought         For Freedom, honor and the right, and anything we've wrought         Our Country to the Empire will still more closely bind.         Ah! where the reddened maple leaf is fluttering in the wind,         There is my heart, oh noble horse, and may we gallop free         Some day again in Canada, our Land of Liberty.         The night drags on toward the dawn, and far on yonder plain         I hear the throb of musketry, I feel its echoing pain.         I see the star-shells breaking, and nearer than their flare,         A wreath of deadly smoke points out that once a town was there.         Look, brother horse, the night is past, and glorious is the dawn,         Away with peril! We'll ride on for our Saskatchewan.         With day comes hope, and though again the sky with blood is red,         We'll ride against the enemy, for Victory lies ahead,         Aye! for the Empire - Victory that thou shalt help to bring.         And for the Allies Victory - on earth what greater thing!

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Analysis & Notes:
The poem's form and structure are characterized by a loose, conversational tone, with four-line stanzas that mimic the rhythm of speech. The voice is that of a veteran soldier, addressed to his horse, and the tone is one of melancholy and longing. The imagery is vivid and evocative, conjuring up the vast expanse of the prairie and the stark contrast between the natural beauty of the wheatlands and the horrors of war. The sound is marked by the repetition of certain words and phrases, such as we've ridden many a weary mile and for Victory lies ahead, which creates a sense of rhythm and urgency.

At its core, the poem is a lament for the loss of innocence and the futility of war. The speaker's nostalgia for the peaceful prairies of Saskatchewan is juxtaposed with the harsh realities of conflict, as he hears the sound of musketry and sees the devastation of war. The central tension is between the desire for freedom and the reality of oppression, as the speaker and his horse are bound to the Empire and forced to fight against their will. The poem ends on a note of defiance, with the speaker and his horse riding towards a distant horizon, driven by a vision of Victory and a longing for a better world.

Understanding Ballads

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music, that has been a cornerstone of storytelling across various cultures. Traditionally passed down orally, ballads are known for their rhythmic structure and often tell tales of love, adventure, and heroism.


Ballads are characterized by their strong rhythm and repetition, making them both memorable and engaging. Here are some defining features:

  • Narrative Structure: Ballads typically tell a story, often a dramatic or emotional tale that unfolds in a straightforward, chronological order.
  • Quatrain Stanzas: Most ballads are composed of quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB, which adds to the musicality of the verse.
  • Repetition: Refrains or repeated lines are common in ballads, helping to emphasize key themes or emotions and making the ballad easier to remember.
  • Oral Tradition: Many ballads originated from oral traditions, which means they were passed down through generations by word of mouth before being written down.

From medieval minstrels to contemporary songwriters, ballads have continued to evolve, remaining a beloved form of expression that captures the human experience in a way that is both poetic and accessible.