Ye Patriot Sons Of Canada.

By Thomas Frederick Young

Narrative Poem
    Ye patriot sons of Canada,      Whate'er your race or creed,     Arise, your country claims you now,      In this, her hour of need.     Arise, with right and valor girt,      To battle with the foe,     Which threatens to defy our laws,      And lay our country low.     Arise, for black rebellion's flag,      Again may 'mongst us wave,     And traitors in our country's camp,      May dig our country's grave.     The law was righteously enforc'd,      Riel did fairly die,     And why should we give way to those,      Who raise the rebel's cry?     In spite of priest's or statesman's voice,      Quebec, forsooth, must rage,     And, with her wrongful acts and words,      Insult experience and age.     And demagogues, with purpose vile,      Must lead the trait'rous cause,     And hound unthinking masses on,      To wreck our country's laws.     Then rise, each patriotic son,      And guard your country's flag,     Both for your own and country's sake,      Oh, never let it drag.     By vote, and action, if there's need,      Assert your country's claim,     To brandish high stern Justice' sword,      O'er any race or name.     Arise then, sons of Canada,      In purpose strong and bright,     Fear not the foe, nor doubt results,      For God defends the right.

Share & Analyze This Poem

Spread the beauty of poetry or dive deeper into analysis

Analyze This Poem

Discover the literary devices, structure, and deeper meaning

Create Image

Transform this poem into a beautiful shareable image

Copy to Clipboard

Save this poem for personal use or sharing offline

Share the Love of Poetry
More Poems
More Narrative Poems
Daily Poem

Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
The poem is a fiery call to arms, urging Canadian unity against perceived threats to national stability. Its relentless march of iambic tetrameter, coupled with a lack of rhyme, lends an urgent, unrelenting tone to the exhortation, while the single-stanza structure reinforces the unbroken urgency of the message. The voice is unapologetically partisan, framing rebellion as a moral failing and casting Quebec’s dissent as reckless defiance. Imagery of flags, graves, and swords underscores the stakes, while the repeated imperative Arise creates a rhythmic insistence that mirrors the poem's political urgency. The turn arrives in the final lines, shifting from exhortation to reassurance, as divine sanction is invoked to bolster the cause. The poem’s most striking feature is its unyielding moral certainty, which brooks no dissent and presents patriotism as an absolute duty.

Exploring Narrative Poetry

Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator and characters as well. Unlike lyric poetry, which focuses on emotions and thoughts, narrative poetry is dedicated to storytelling, weaving tales that captivate readers through plot and character development.

Narrative poems are unique in their ability to combine the depth of storytelling with the expressive qualities of poetry. Here are some defining characteristics:

  • Structured Plot: Narrative poems typically have a clear beginning, middle, and end, following a plot that might involve conflict, climax, and resolution, much like a short story or novel.
  • Character Development: Characters in narrative poems are often well-developed, with distinct voices and personalities that drive the story forward.
  • Descriptive Language: The language used in narrative poetry is vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture of the scenes and events, while also conveying the emotions and atmosphere of the story.

From ancient epics like "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to more modern narrative poems, this form continues to engage readers by blending the art of storytelling with the beauty and rhythm of poetry.