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FAIRY GOLD, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: Buttercups and daisies in the meadow


I
[A BALLAD OF '48]

Buttercups and daisies in the meadow,

And the children pick them as they pass,
BUTTERCUPS and daisies in the meadow,
Weaving in the sunshine and the shadow
Garlands for each little lad and lass;
And the children pick them as they pass,
Weave with dreams their buttercups and daisies
Weaving in the sunlight and the shadow
Garlands for each little lad and lass;
As the children did in days of old;
Will the dreams, like sunlight in their faces,
Weave with dreams their buttercups and daisies,
Wither with their flowers, like Fairy Gold?
As the poor dead children did of old.

Will the dreams, like sunshine in their faces,
Wither with their flowers like Fairy Gold ?


II
Once, when lonely in life's crowded highway,

Came a maiden sweet, and took my hand,
Once, when lonely in Life's crowded highway,
Led me down Love's green delightful byeway,
Came a maiden sweet, and took my hand,
Led me down Love's green delightful byway,
Led me wondering back to Fairyland.
Led me dreaming back to Fairyland.
Ah! Death's envious eyes that light on lovers
But Death's jealous eye that lights on lovers
Looked upon her, and her breast grew cold;
Looked upon her, and her breast grew cold,
Now my heart's delight the green sod covers,
And my heart's delight the green sod covers,
Vanished from my arms like Fairy Gold.

Vanished from my arms like Fairy Gold!


III

Then to Ireland, my long-striving nation,
Then to Ireland, my long- suffering nation,
That poor hope life left me yet I gave;
That poor hope life left me still I gave,
With her dreams I dreamed, her desolation
With her dreams I dreamed, her desolation
Found me, called me, desolate by that grave.
Found me, called me, desolate by that grave.
Once again she raised her head, contending
Once again she raised her head, contending
For her children's birthright as of old;
For her children's birthright, as of old,
Once again the old fight had the old ending,
Once again the old fight had the old ending,
All her hopes and dreams were Fairy Gold.
All her hopes and dreams were Fairy Gold.




Now my work is done and I am dying,
IV
Lone, an exile on a foreign shore;
Now my work is done, and I am dying,
Lone, an exile on a foreign shore,
But in dreams roam with my love that's lying
But in dreams roam with my Love that's lying,
Lonely in the old land I'll see no more.
Lonely in the Old Land I'll see no more.
Buttercups and daisies in the meadows
Buttercups and daisies in her meadows
When I'm gone will bloom; new hopes for old
Comfort her with sunshine after shadows,
When I'm gone will bloom; new hopes for old
Comfort her with sunshine after shadows,
Fade no more away like Fairy Gold.

Fade no more away like Fairy Gold!







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