Within his life-time no complete collection of his poems was made. They appeared chiefly in the various newspapers on both sides of the Atlantic to which he had contributed. The year after his death they were collected and published by his friend Mrs. Sadlier. One little volume he himself published in 1858, _Canadian Ballads and Occasional Verses_. It was a worthy tribute to his interest in the history of his newly adopted country, and was addressed to those who looked forward to the development of the colonies into a great new northern nation. The subject matter of his verses is varied. Many deal with the affections; others are religious in sentiment; but the greater number are patriotic and historical. They are concerned with the saints and heroes of Ireland's story, from St. Patrick to Smith O'Brien. They throb with the fervour of a patriot as they tell of Innisfail, the Ireland of ancient times, and of how Long, long ago, beyond the misty space Of twice a thousand years, In Erin old there dwelt a mighty race, Taller than Roman spears; Like oaks and towers, they had a giant grace, Were fleet as deers, With winds and wave they made their 'biding place, These Western shepherd-seers. McGee's imagination revelled in the traditions and myths of the Celts. He expressed that brooding melancholy over the past which has ever been the pervading sentiment of Irish poetry. He believed that the Celtic race had a soul that was chastened by past misfortunes, and yet was not without hope in the present. He invoked it in the lines: Soul of my race! Soul eternal! That liveth through evil and time-- That twineth still laurels all vernal, As if laurels could once more be thine! Oh hear me, oh cheer me, be near me, Oh guide me or chide me alway, But do not fly from me or fear me-- I'm all clay when thou, Soul, art away. McGee's poetry was shaped largely by the group of Young Ireland who taught that verse might be used as a convenient means of drawing upon Irish traditions for the purpose of arousing a national consciousness. From its nature such poetry has limitations. It must fail to win the universal appeal of verse with no national end to serve. McGee was not limited in his allegiance to Ireland. His _Canadian Ballads_ were inspired by incidents in Canadian history, and were intended to show the fertility of Canadian annals in subjects adaptable to verse. It was his belief that "of all the forms of patriotism, a wise, public-spirited patriotism in literature is not the least admirable. It is, indeed, glorious to die in battle in defence of our homes or altars; but not less glorious is it to live to celebrate the virtues of our heroic countrymen, to adorn the history, or to preserve the traditions of our country".