Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AILLEEN by JOHN BANIM

First Line: TIS NOT FOR LOVE OF GOLD I GO
Last Line: AND A HAND WILL WELCOME ME!
Subject(s): LOVE;
'TIS not for love of gold I go,
'Tis not for love of fame;
Tho' fortune should her smile bestow
And I may win a name,
Ailleen,
And I may win a name.

And yet it is for gold I go,
And yet it is for fame,
That they may deck another brow,
And bless another name,
Ailleen,
And bless another name.

For this, but this, I go -- for this
I lose thy love awhile;
And all the soft and quiet bliss
Of thy young, faithful smile,
Ailleen,
Of thy young, faithful smile.

And I go to brave a world I hate,
And woo it o'er and o'er,
And tempt a wave, and try a fate
Upon a stranger shore,
Ailleen,
Upon a stranger shore.

O! when the bays are all my own,
I know a heart will care!
O! when the gold is wooed and won,
I know a brow shall wear,
Ailleen,
I know a brow shall wear!

And when with both returned again,
My native land to see,
I know a smile will meet me there,
And a hand will welcome me,
Ailleen,
And a hand will welcome me!



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