Guard of the Eastern Gate

Halifax sits on her hills by the sea
In the might of her pride, —
Invincible, terrible, beautiful, she
With a sword at her side.

To right and to left of her, battlements rear
And fortresses frown ;
While she sits on her throne without favour or fear,
With her cannon as crown.

Coast-guard and sentinel, watch of the weal
Of a nation she keeps ;
But her hand is encased in a gauntlet of steel,
And her thunder but sleeps.