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 @3"The West's awake, the West's awake"-@1 "Sing oh! hurra! let England quake, We'll watch till death for Erin's sake!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VOLUPTAS by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON A LITTLE GIRL LOST, FR. SONGS OF EXPERIENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE THE FUNERAL OF YOUTH: THRENODY by RUPERT BROOKE WHY THUS LONGING by HARRIET WINSLOW SEWALL PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 8. MUHAIMIN by EDWIN ARNOLD |