The following poem was authored by my grandmother and sent to me by Neal Tremblett. It was printed in a newspaper, presumably The Clarenville Packet, although the publication date isn't known.

A New Year's Prayer

Another New Years Day has come,
The old has passed away
And what it has in store for us
Is more than we can say.
 
Last year we hoped as we do now
Before the same was o'er
That we would hear glad news of peace
And war would be no more.
 
But still today - our aching hearts
For many are in tears;
For the rumble of war swells o'er our land
As it has for the past three years.
 
We can't forget that last New Year
Some of our boys were home;
Since then we've had to part, and they
Have sailed across the foam.
 
Those daring boys have left our side
And crossed the foaming main;
God only knows if ever we
Will meet on earth again.
 
'Tis but too true that some of them
Have fallen in the fight
They bravely fought to help the cause
Of liberty and right.
 
They left their homes and friends so dear
Their country for to save
And now we know not where they lie
Except an unmarked grave.
 
Some others are in the hospital
On beds of suffering lies
Reveal tyself, O God of love
Before their closing eyes.
 
And soon we hope that peace will be
Proclaimed throughout our land
And all, or some of our dear boys
Come back to Newfoundland.
 
'Twill be a happy day for all
When cannons cease to roar
To see returning soldiers come
To their own native shore.
 
Fond mothers will embrace their sons,
Sweethearts will love again
And peace and joy will be once more
As long as they remain.
 
So let us then our hopes renew
For, ere this year is o'er
That love may take the place of hate
And war will be no more.
 
 
Written (but never before published) in 1917,
at the age of 18 by;
 
Mrs. Alfred Pike
Charleston, B.B.


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Last Modified: Friday, 06-Aug-2010 11:42:54 NDT