HEAVY the housings about his bed, Cold the clay that will hide his head. The sun was red in the sky at noon, The crescent moon was dim with dread. Through the blind night the banshee cried, The death-watch beat in the wall by his side, The priest had untied his bonds of sin, And every window was open wide. Over and done are the warrior's wars, There is martyr's balm for the martyr's scars; Brake the prison-bars, and on soaring wing, His soul went singing among the stars. Sing, O Angels, 'twixt stars and space! Weep, O Lady, your love's dead face! To the keening-place come the women of grief, Keening the Chief of Hy-Nial's race. We bear his body by road and rath, We bear his body by glen and path; Thrice hath the magpie cursed in his flight, Black is the blight on the aftermath. Weird and wild is the wail of woman, Humbled the head of the haughty Roman. Dark the omen and dark the vision, In deep derision outlaughs the foeman. Chant the death-chant, O friars grey! House the Chief in the holy clay! Moon, hide away! Be blind, O Sun! Christ and country are slain to-day! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MIST AND ALL by DIXIE WILLSON THE TIMES by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD AN EPITAPH UPON THE DEATH OF SIR PHILIP SIDNEY by RICHARD BARNFIELD TO MRS W. ON HER EXCELLENT VERSES WRITTEN IN A FIT OF SICKNESS by APHRA BEHN LIBERTINE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN JAMES BARR AMES by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE A DEAD MOTHER by GORDON BOTTOMLEY |