Proud of our flag and traditions; proud, but not boastfully so;
Dreaming our dreams and our visions, planning the way we would go;
Saying, "This task for to-morrow; life shall be clay in our hands;
We shall be first of the nations, fattest and fairest of lands".
Then in the quivering heaven gathered the threatening wrath;
We looked—and went on with our labours; heard, and replied with a laugh;
Surely the world was for business; (list to the hammer and spade);
Leave the war-lords to their lusting—on with our traffic and trade!
Then, in a flash, it was on us; blazed, and it dazzled our eyes;
Then for a moment we faltered, suddenly sick with surprise;