Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AT STE. THERESE, by SUSAN FRANCES HARRISON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AT STE. THERESE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The quaint stiff metres of olden france?
Last Line: Over the lombardy poplar trees.
Alternate Author Name(s): Seranus; Frances, Susan
Subject(s): Canada; Churches; France; Canadians; Cathedrals


I

The quaint stiff metres of olden France!
Strange, to hear them in St. Thérèse,
Metres that speak of duel and dance,

Of gay parterre and of trim pleasance,
Of swords that flash and fringe that frays—
The quaint stiff metres of olden France!

In his sash and tuque with his keen gay glance,
Hark to Maxime as he lustily brays
Metres that speak of duel and dance,

Measures that ring with old-world romance,
Ballads, rondels, and virelays,
The quaint stiff metres of olden France.

A troubadour with a whip for his lance,
In his rude calash his song betrays
Metres that speak of duel and dance.

Strange, is it not, by a happy chance
I should hear in the streets of Ste. Thérèse,
The quaint stiff metres of olden France,
Metres that speak of duel and dance?

II

The tall twin towers of the grim église
Loom up over the wharf and street,
Over the Lombardy poplar trees.

Whichever way one goes one sees
The séminaire, and is sure to meet
The tall twin towers of the grim église,

And but for the keen Canadian breeze
Blowing the sharp Canadian sleet
Over the Lombardy popular trees

To me and Pierre, who says it will freeze
By night, I feel as if I must greet
The tall twin towers of the grim église

For an Old World church with Old World fees,
The Old World carillon sounding sweet
Over the Lombardy poplar trees.

Vite donc, my Pierre! For the time it flees;
Once more would I see from my snug low seat
The tall twin towers of the grim église
Over the Lombardy poplar trees.





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