OH, 'tis pleasant in Iona Whether in shine or snow! Grand it is in Iona When the north winds blow. The birds sing sweet in Iona, Oh very sweet and low! But sore I miss in Iona A voice I used to know. Iona hath the song-birds And the hum of the bees, The distant bark of house-dogs, And the wind in the trees. She hath the singing-cricket, And the moan of the seas, But never the low of cattle My homesick heart to ease. The wee brown cow of Kerry Is docile and kind, The big-framed cow of Leinster Is much to my mind, The wild little cow of the mountains Who shall loose or bind? Sweet is the call of the milkmaid Borne upon the wind. Columba he hath said it -- 'Wherever a cow shall be, There shall be found a woman, Her wiles and witchery. And in this Holy Island May God forbid that she Should plague with sore temptation My holy men and me.' And since the kine are banished Heavy my heart doth go; Oh sweet it is in Iona Whatever wind will blow! But I, the farmer-brother, My tears are sad and slow For the low of the kindly cattle, The voice I used to know. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AMERICAN NAMES by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET THE WITCH by MARY ELIZABETH COLERIDGE SATIRES OF CIRCUMSTANCE: 2. IN CHURCH by THOMAS HARDY SONNETS ON PICTURES: MARY MAGDALEN AT THE DOOR OF SIMON THE PHARISEE by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI SATIRES: 51. UPON NOTHING by JOHN WILMOT FOUR SONNETS: 2 by FRANK DAVIS ASHBURN |