Federation [poem, 29 September 1900]

[Editor: A poem published in The Northern Star, 29 September 1900.]

Federation.

October 1st, 1900.

No sound of war, no din of strife
Re-echoed at thy birth,
But calm in peace thy star arose
Thou last-born of the earth.

Unsevered still, the tie that knits
Earth’s greatest land with thee;
The brightest gem in England’s crown —
Australia fair and free.

Now joined in one from sea to sea,
One common name we bear,
One nation now, one land we own,
One destiny we share.

Our own bright land, in days to come
Our care shall ever be —
To guard thine honour, seek thy good
And win renown for thee.

With noble deeds, with words of power
To grace our country’s name,
Till thou — the last in birth — shalt stand
The first in rank of fame.

Should hostile foes surround thy shores,
And evil days be nigh,
“A wall of fire” thy sons shall stand
To guard thee — or to die.

Fair be thy destiny and bright,
Land of the Southern Sea;
Full many a weary, exiled heart
Has found a home in thee.

Now rich and great be thy reward,
“The Strangers’ God” thy stay,
May he look down in love and bless
The Nation born to-day.

— Eileen.

Source:
The Northern Star (Lismore, NSW), Saturday 29 September 1900, page 8

Also published in:
The Northern Star (Lismore, NSW), Wednesday 2 January 1901, page 8 [under the title of “Federated Australia”]