"My speech is clean and single,

I talk of common things

Words of the wharf and the market-place

And the ware the merchant brings: Favour to those I favour,

But a stumbling-block to my foes.

Many there be that hate us,"

Said our Lady of the Snows.

"I called my chiefs to council
In the din of a troubled year;
For the sake of a sign ye would not see,
And a word ye would not hear.
This is our message and answer;

This is the path we chose:

For we be also a people,"

Said our Lady of the Snows.

"Carry the word to my sisters

To the Queens of the East and the South.

I have proven faith in the Heritage

By more than the word of the mouth.

They that are wise may follow

Ere the world's war-trumpet blows: But I-I am first in the battle,"

Said our Lady of the Snows.

A Nation spoke to a Nation,

A Throne sent word to a Throne: "Daughter am I in my mother's house, But mistress in my own!

The gates are mine to open,

As the gates are mine to close,
And I abide by my mother's house,"
Said our Lady of the Snows.

Till the men with polished toppers, till the men in long frock-coats,

Till the men that do not duel, till the men who fight with votes,

Till the breed that take their pleasures as Saint Laurence took his grid,

Began to "beg your pardon" and-the knowing croupier hid.

Then the bandsmen with their fiddles, and the girls that bring the beer,

Felt the psychologic moment, left the lit casino

clear;

But the uninstructed alien, from the Teuton to the Gaul,

Was entrapped, once more, my country, by that suave, deceptive drawl.

As it was in ancient Suez or 'neath wilder, milder skies,

I "observe with apprehension" when the racial ructions rise;

And with keener apprehension, if I read the times aright,

Hear the old casino order: "Watch your man, but be polite.

"Keep your temper. Never answer (that was why they spat and swore).

Don't hit first, but move together (there's no hurry) to the door.

Back to back, and facing outward while the linguist tells 'em how

'Nous sommes allong à notre batteau, nous ne voulong pas un row."

So the hard, pent rage ate inward, till some idiot went too far

"Let 'em have it!" and they had it, and the

same was serious war.

Fist, umbrella, cane, decanter, lamp and beer

mug, chair and boot

Till behind the fleeing legions rose the long,

hoarse yell for loot.