Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MEMORY OF THE IRISH DEAD, by JOHN KELLS INGRAM Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: Who fears to speak of ninety-eight? Last Line: Like those of ninety-eight! Variant Title(s): The Men Of 'ninety-eight;the Memory Of The Dead Subject(s): Freedom; Ireland; Ireland - Rebellions; Patriotism; Liberty; Irish | ||||||||
Who fears to speak of Ninety-Eight? Who blushes at the name? When cowards mock the patriot's fate, Who hangs his head for shame? He's all a knave, or half a slave, Who slights his country thus; But a true man, like you, man, Will fill your glass with us. We drink the memory of the brave, The faithful and the few; Some lie far off beyond the wave, Some sleep in Ireland, too; All, all are gone; but still lives on The fame of those who died; All true men, like you, men, Remember them with pride. Some on the shores of distant lands Their weary hearts have laid, And by the stranger's heedless hands Their lonely graves were made; But, though their clay be far away Beyond the Atlantic foam, In true men, like you, men, Their spirit's still at home. The dust of some is Irish earth, Among their own they rest, And the same land that gave them brith Has caught them to her breast; And we will pray that from their clay Full many a race may start Of true men, like you, men, To act as brave a part. They rose in dark and evil days To right their native land; They kindled here a living blaze That nothing shall withstand. Alas! that Might can vanquish Right-- They fell and passed away; But true men, like you, men, Are plenty here to-day. Then here's their memory--may it be For us a guiding light, To cheer our strife for liberty, And teach us to unite-- Through good and ill, be Ireland's still, Though sad as theirs your fate, And true men be you, men, Like those of Ninety-Eight! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SIGHTSEERS by PAUL MULDOON THE DREAM SONGS: 290 by JOHN BERRYMAN AN IRISH HEADLAND by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE GIANT'S RING: BALLYLESSON, NEAR BELFAST by ROBINSON JEFFERS IRELAND; WRITTEN FOR THE ART AUTOGRAPH DURING IRISH FAMINE by SIDNEY LANIER THE EYES ARE ALWAYS BROWN by GERALD STERN NATIONAL PRESAGE by JOHN KELLS INGRAM |
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