Classic and Contemporary Poetry
CELTS AND SAXONS, by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: We hate the saxon and the dane Last Line: We've hearts and nands for you. Subject(s): Brotherhood; Nationalism - Ireland | ||||||||
I. WE hate the Saxon and the Dane, We hate the Norman men -- We cursed their greed for blood and gain, We curse them now again. Yet start not, Irish born man, If you're to Ireland true, We heed not blood, nor creed, nor clan -- We have no curse for you. II. We have no curse for you or your's, But Friendship's ready grasp, And Faith to stand by you and your's Unto our latest gasp -- To stand by you against all foes, Howe'er, or whence they come, With traitor arts, or bribes, or blows, From England, France, or Rome. III. What matter that at different shrines We pray unto one God -- What matter that at different times Our fathers won this sod -- In fortune and in name we're bound By stronger links than steel; And neither can be safe nor sound But in the other's weal. IV. As Nubian rocks, and Ethiop sand Long drifting down the Nile, Built up old Egypt's fertile land For many a hundred mile; So Pagan clans to Ireland came, And clans of Christendom, Yet joined their wisdom and their fame To build a nation from. V. Here came the brown Phoenician, The man of trade and toil -- Here came the proud Milesian, Ahungering for spoil; And the Firbolg and the Cymry, And the hard, enduring Dane, And the iron Lords of Normandy, With the Saxons in their train. VI. And oh! it were a gallant deed To show before mankind, How every race and every creed Might be by love combined -- Might be combined, yet not forget The fountain whence they rose, As, filled by many a rivulet The stately Shannon flows. VII. Nor would we wreak our ancient feud On Belgian or on Dane, Nor visit in a hostile mood The hearths of Gaul or Spain; But long as on our country lies The Anglo-Norman yoke, Their tyranny we'll signalize, And God's revenge invoke. VIII. We do not hate, we never cursed, Nor spoke a foeman's word Against a man in Ireland nursed, Howe'er we thought he erred; So start not, Irish born man, If you're to Ireland true, We heed not race, nor creed, nor clan, We've hearts and nands for you. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NATIONALITY by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF CONSCIENCE by SEAMUS HEANEY A SONG OF FREEDOM by ALICE MILLIGAN REGINA MENDOSENA by NATHALIA CRANE A NATION ONCE AGAIN by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS A PLEA FOR THE BOG-TROTTERS by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS A SECOND PLEA FOR THE BOG-TROTTERS by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS LAMENT FOR THE MILESIANS by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS O'CONNELL'S STATUE by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS CLARE'S DRAGOONS by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS FONTENOY by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS LAMENT FOR THE DEATH OF EOGHAN RUADH (OWEN ROE) O'NEIL by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS |
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