Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE OLD LAND by KATHARINE TYNAN

First Line: WHEN I CAME BACK TO IRELAND THE LEAVES ON THE TREE
Last Line: FOR DON'T YOU REMEMBER? AND COULD YOU FORGET?
Subject(s): DEATH; HOMECOMING; IRELAND; MEMORY; DEAD, THE; IRISH;

WHEN I came back to Ireland the leaves on the tree,
The birds on the branches would keep reminding me,
With, @3don't you remember?@1 and @3could you forget?@1
Till I'm living and walking in the old times yet.

The wind from the mountains it blows fresh and strong;
@3Ah, don't you remember?@1 is still the wind's song.
With @3don't you remember?@1 and @3could you forget?@1
As I went out walking 'twas the dead that I met.

There's a road runs to Wicklow: it goes past the door.
The dust of it's holy for feet it once bore.
They've all travelled Westward where the sun doesn't set,
@3Ah, don't you remember?@1 and @3could you forget?@1

The blackbird he's mocking from the apple-bough:
@3Sure, why would you trouble to be coming now
When them that sore missed you are past fear and fret?
Ah, don't you remember?@1 and @3could you forget?@1

There's not a flower in Ireland, there isn't a hill,
Nor yet a breath of the Four Winds but keeps reminding still,
Till my poor heart is troubled and my eyes are wet
For @3don't you remember?@1 and @3could you forget?@1



Home: PoetryExplorer.net