Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE GROVES OF BLARNEY, by RICHARD ALFRED MILLIKIN Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: The groves of blarney they look so charming Last Line: From the blarney stone! Alternate Author Name(s): Milliken, Richard Alfred Subject(s): Blarney Castle, Ireland | ||||||||
THE groves of Blarney, They look so charming, Down by the purlings Of sweet silent brooks, All decked by posies That spontaneous grew there, Planted in order In the rocky nooks. 'Tis there the daisy, And the sweet carnation, The blooming pink, And the rose so fair; Likewise the lily, And the daffodilly-- All flowers that scent The sweet open air. 'Tis Lady Jeffers Owns this plantation; Like Alexander, Or like Helen fair, There's no commander In all the nation, For regulation, Can with her compare. Such walls surround her, That no nine-pounder Could ever plunder Her place of strength; But Oliver Cromwell, Her he did pommel, And made a breach In her battlement. There is a cave where No daylight enters, But cats and badgers Are for ever bred; And mossed by nature Makes it completer Than a coach-and-six, Or a downy bed. 'Tis there the lake is Well stored with fishes, And comely eels in The verdant mud; Besldes the leeches, And groves of beeches, Standing in order To guard the flood. There gravel walks are For recreation, And meditation In sweet solitude. 'Tis there the lover May hear the dove, or The gentle plover, In the afternoon; And if a lady Would be so engaging As for to walk in Those shady groves, 'Tis there the courtier Might soon transport her Into some fort, or The 'sweet rock-close'. There are statues gracing This noble place in-- All heathen gods, And nymphs so fair; Bold Neptune, Caesar, And Nebuchadnezzar, All standing naked In the open air! There is a boat on The lake to float on, And lots of beauties Which I can't entwine; But were I a preacher, Or a classic teacher, In every feature I'd make 'em shine! There is a stone there That whoever kisses, Oh! he never misses To grow eloquent. 'Tis he may clamber To a lady's chamber, Or become a member Of Parliament: A clever spouter He'll sure turn out, or An out-and-outer, 'To be let alone.' Don't hope to hinder him, Or to bewilder him; Sure he 's a pilgrim From the Blarney stone! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BLARNEY STONE by JOHN GODFREY SAXE INHERITING THE GIFT OF BLARNEY by PHILIP DACEY BLARNEY CASTLE by FRANCIS SYLVESTER MAHONY BLARNEY STONE by FRANCIS SYLVESTER MAHONY TO BAYARD TAYLOR by SIDNEY LANIER THE OLD MAN OF VERONA by CLAUDIAN THE BELEAGUERED CITY by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW |
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