Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE WEST'S ASLEEP, by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WEST'S ASLEEP, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When all beside a vigil keep
Last Line: "we'll watch till death for erin's sake!"
Subject(s): Nationalism - Ireland


I.

WHEN all beside a vigil keep,
The West's asleep, the West's asleep --
Alas! and well may Erin weep,
When Connaught lies in slumber deep.
There lake and plain smile fair and free,
'Mid rocks -- their guardian chivalry --
Sing oh! let man learn liberty
From crashing wind and lashing sea.

II.

That chainless wave and lovely land
Freedom and Nationhood demand --
Be sure, the great God never planned,
For slumbering slaves, a home so grand.
And, long, a brave and haughty race
Honoured and sentinelled the place --
Sing oh! not even their sons' disgrace
Can quite destroy their glory's trace.

III.

For often, in O'Connor's van,
To triumph dashed each Connaught clan --
And fleet as deer the Normans ran
Through Corlieu's Pass and Ardrahan
And later times saw deeds as brave;
And glory guards Clanricarde's grave --
Sing oh! they died their land to save,
At Aughrim's slopes and Shannon's wave.

IV.

And if, when all a vigil keep,
The West's asleep, the West's asleep --
Alas! and well may Erin weep,
That Connaught lies in slumber deep.
But -- hark! -- some voice like thunder spake
"The West's awake, the West's awake"-
"Sing oh! hurra! let England quake,
We'll watch till death for Erin's sake!"





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