AT the grey dawn, amongst the falling leaves, A little bird outside my window swung, High on a topmost branch he trilled his song, And "Ireland! Ireland! Ireland!" ever sung. "Take me," I cried, "back to my island home; Sweet bird, my soul shall ride between thy wings"; For my lone spirit wide his pinions spread, And "Home" and "Home" and "Home" he ever sings. We lingered over Ulster stern and wild. I called: "Arise! doth none remember me?" One turnèd in the darkness murmuring, "How loud upon the breakers sobs the sea!" We rested over Connaught—whispering said: "Awake, awake, and welcome! I am here." One woke and shivered at the morning grey: "The trees, I never heard them sigh so drear." We flew low over Munster. Low I wept: "You used to love me, love me once again!" They spoke from out the shadows wondering: "You'd think of tears, so bitter falls the rain." Long over Leinster lingered we. "Goodbye! My best beloved, goodbye for evermore." Sleepless they tossed and whispered to the dawn: "So sad a wind was never heard before." Was it a dream I dreamt? For yet there swings In the grey morn a bird upon the bough, And "Ireland! Ireland! Ireland!" ever sings. Oh! fair the breaking day in Ireland now. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PETRIFIED FERN by MARY LYDIA BOLLES BRANCH NOT DEAD by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES ULTIMA THULE: NIGHT by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW YOU LINGERING SPARSE LEAVES OF ME by WALT WHITMAN CENTENNIAL HYMN by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF 27 B.C. by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS A COWBOY'S HOPELESS LOVE by JAMES BARTON ADAMS IN A LETTER TO A.R.C. ON HER WISHING TO BE CALLED ANNA by MATILDA BARBARA BETHAM-EDWARDS |