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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OH! FOR A STEED by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS

First Line: OH! FOR A STEED, A RUSHING STEED, AND A BLAZING SCIMITAR
Last Line: TO CONQUER IF THEN TO FALL.
Subject(s): ANIMALS; HORSES; NATIONALISM - IRELAND;
I.

OH! for a steed, a rushing steed, and a blazing scimitar,
To hunt from beauteous Italy the Austrian's red hussar
To mock their boasts,
And strew their hosts,
And scatter their flags afar.

II.

Oh! for a steed, a rushing steed, and dear Poland gathered around,
To smite her circle of savage foes, and smash them upon the ground;
Nor hold my hand
While, on the land,
A foreigner foe was found.

III.

Oh! for a steed, a rushing steed, and a rifle that never failed,
And a tribe of terrible prairie men, by desperate valour mailed,
Till "stripes and stars,"
And Russian czars,
Before the Red Indian quailed.

IV.

Oh! for a steed, a rushing steed, on the plains of Hindustan,
And a hundred thousand cavaliers, to charge like a single man,
Till our shirts were red,
And the English fled,
Like a cowardly caravan.

V.

Oh! for a steed, a rushing steed, with the Greeks a Marathon.
Or a place in the Switzer phalanx, when the Morat men swept on,
Like a pine-clad hill
By an earthquake's will
Hurled the valleys upon.

VI.

Oh! for a steed, a rushing steed, when Brian smote down the Dane,
Or a place beside great Aodh O'Neill, when Bagenal the bold was slain,
Or a waving crest
And a lance in rest,
With Bruce upon Bannoch plain.

VII.

Oh! for a steed, a rushing steed, on the Curragh of Kildare,
And Irish squadrons ready to do, as they are ready to dare --
A hundred yards,
And Holland's guards
Drawn up to engage me there.

VIII.

Oh! for a steed, a rushing steed, and any good cause at all,
Or else, if you will, a field on foot, or guarding a leaguered wall
For freedom's right;
In flushing fight
To conquer if then to fall.



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