Men of the day and the distance; men of the mothering earth;
Laying the lines of a nation nurturing fair from the birth.
Taking our freedom for granted, we, who had ever been free;
Speaking the tongue of our fathers, confident, composite, we;
Welcoming all in our borders, laying our wealth at their feet,
Querying not of their motives, holding their honour complete.
Little thought we of the war-cloud, little of drilling and drill;
We were for peace with our neighbours—peace (and a pocket to fill);
Only one neighbour we counted, only one neighbour we knew;
Him—though we watched him—we trusted; trusted, and felt he was true.