Why is his name unsung, O minstrel host? Why do ye pass his memory like a ghost? Why is no rose, no laurel, on his grave? Was he not constant, vigilant and brave? Why, when that hero-age ye deify. Why do ye pass Infelix Felix by? He rose the first-he looms the morning-star Of the long, glorious, unsuccessful war. England abhors him ! Has she not abhorr'd All who for Ireland ventured life or word? What memory wou'd she not have cast away That Ireland hugs in her heart's heart to-day? He rose in wrath to free his fetter'd land. ' There's blood-there's Saxon blood-upon his hand.' Ay, so they say ! Three thousand, less or more. He sent untimely to the Stygian shore. They were the keepers of the prison-gate He slew them his whole race to liberate O clear-eyed poets ! ye who can descry Through vulgar heaps of dead where heroes lie Ye, to whose glance the primal mist is clear - Behold, there lies a trampled noble here ! Shall we not leave a mark? shall we not do Justice to one so hated and so true? If ev'n his hand and hilt were so distain'd If he was guilty, as he has been blamed- His death redeem'd his life. He chose to die Rather than get his freedom with a lie. Plant o'er his gallant heart a laurel-tree. So may his head within the shadow be. I mourn for thee, O hero of the North God judge thee gentler than we do on earth I I mourn for thee, and for our land, because She dare not own thee martyr in our cause; But they, our poets, they who justify They will not let thy memory rot or die ! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BATTLE OF BRITAIN by CECIL DAY LEWIS SONG OF SAUL BEFORE HIS LAST BATTLE by GEORGE GORDON BYRON CHAMBER MUSIC: 36 by JAMES JOYCE HOW THE CUMBERLAND WENT DOWN [MARCH 8, 1862] by SILAS WEIR MITCHELL A VINDICATION by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |