Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DEATH OF LEAG, CUCHULAIN'S CHARIOTEER, by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE Poet's Biography First Line: I only heard the loud ebb on the sand Last Line: "they come to you with sleep." Subject(s): Heroism; Ireland; Mythology; Heroes; Heroines; Irish | ||||||||
CONALL "I ONLY heard the loud ebb on the sand, The high ducks talking in the chilly sky. The voices that you fancied floated by Were wind notes, or the whisper on the trees. But you are still so full of war's red din, You hear impatient hoof-beats up the land When the sea's changing, or a lisping breeze Is playing on the waters of the linn." LEAG "I hear Cuchulain's voice, and Emer's voice, The Lia Macha's neigh, the chariot's wheels, Farther away a bell bough's drowsy peals; And sleep lays heavy thumbs upon my eyes. I hear Cuchulain sing above the chime Of One Who comes to make the world rejoice, And comes again to blot away the skies, To wipe away the world and roll up Time." CONALL "In the dark ground forever mouth to mouth They kiss thro' all the changes of the world, The grey sea fogs above them are unfurled At evening when the sea walks with the moon, And peace is with them in the long cairn shut. You loved him as the swallow loves the South, And Love speaks with you since the evening put Mist and white dews upon short shadowed noon." LEAG "Sleep lays his heavy thumbs upon my eyes, Shuts out all sounds and shakes me at the wrists. By Nanny water where the salty mists Weep o'er Riangabra let me stand deep Beside my father. Sleep lays heavy thumbs Upon my eyebrows, and I hear the sighs Of far loud waters, and a troop that comes With boughs of bells-----" CONALL "They come to you with sleep." | 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 EVENING CLOUDS by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE |
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