# Lines on London explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by James McIntyre.

## What happens

The poem celebrates the uniformed encampment in London, Ontario, highlighting their victorious demonstrations in St. Thomas and London in August 1884. It contrasts their past wilderness rides on beasts with their present disciplined, uniformed parades, praising their drill skills and victories from Newfoundland to Vancouver.

## Themes in this chapter

### Local Patriotism and Regional Pride

The poem celebrates the London encampment's victories and drill skills, emphasizing local pride and the community's achievements in a national context.

### Community and Social Gatherings

The Forester's demonstration and the encampment represent a community gathering, with parades and drills as central social activities.

## Key lines

> They once in wilderness did ride On beast with horn and shaggy hide⁠— A savage goat or unicorn, But now parade in uniform;

They used to travel through the wilderness on rough, horned beasts, but now they march in orderly uniforms.

_Contrasts the past wildness with present discipline._

> For victory’s graven on their shield Doth make their rivals for to yield;

Victory is inscribed on their shield, causing their competitors to give way.

_Emphasizes the encampment's triumphant reputation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters/lines-on-london
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters