Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SUNBURST by JOHN TODHUNTER

Poem Explanation

First Line: THROUGH THE MIDNIGHT OF DESPAIR, I HEARD
Through the midnight of despair, I heard one making moan
I
For her dead, her victors fall'n to gain all battles but her own;
Through the midnight of despair I heard one making moan
I heard the voice of Ireland, wailing for her dead
For her dead, her victors fallen to gain all battles but her own;
With wailing unavailing, and sobbing as she said:
I heard the voice of Ireland, wailing for her dead
"In vain in many a battle have my heroes fought and bled,
With wailing unavailing, and sighing as she said:
Like water, in vain slaughter, my sons' best blood been shed,
"In vain in many a battle have my heroes fought and bled,
For my house is desolate, discrowned my head!
Like water, in vain slaughter, my sons' best blood been shed;

For my house is desolate, discrowned my head!

II
"In vain my daughters bear their babes-babes with the mournful eyes
In vain my daughters bear their babes, babes with the mournful eyes
Of children without father that hear strange lullabies,
Of children without father, soothed by strange lullabies,
Rocked in their lonely cradles by mothers crooning low,
Rocked in their lonely cradles by mothers crooning low,
And weeping o'er their sleeping, sad songs of long ago;
And weeping o'er their sleeping sad songs of long ago;
Whose eyes, as they remember, while the wailing night-winds blow,
Whose eyes, when they remember, as the wailing nightwinds blow,
Their nation's desolation, in their singing overflow
Their Nation's desolation in their singing overflow
With the overflowing of an ancient woe!"
With the overflowing of an ancient woe."

III

O Mother, mournful Mother, turn from wailing for thy dead,
O Mother, mournful Mother, turn from wailing for thy dead,
Grey Sibyl, yet unvanquished, lift up thy dauntless head!
Grey Sibyl, still unvanquished, lift up thy dauntless head,
O Swan among the nations, enchanted long, so long
O thou Swan among the nations, enchanted long, so long
That the story of thy glory is a half-forgotten song,
That the story of thy glory is a half-forgotten song,
Lift thine eyes, and bless the living, thy sons who round thee throng,
Lift thy voice and bless the living, thy sons who round thee throng!
In the hour of their power they shall right thine ancient wrong;
In the hour of their power they shall right thine ancient wrong;
For their love is deathless, and their faith is strong.
In thyself is thy salvation, let thy heart be strong!
IV

Thy leaf of many sorrows, wet with thy tears for dew,

Emblem of thy long patience, thy champions brave and true,
The Leaf of many Sorrows, wet with thy tears for dew,
Knights of the threefold Heart of Green, like saints the Cross, have worn
Emblem of thy long patience; that hearts, as brave and true
Through their nation's tribulation, through infamy and scorn,
As those united hearts of green, through infamy and scorn,
We'll blazon with the Sunburst, star of thy destined morn,
Through the nation's tribulations, like Saints the cross, have worn,
On our azure's ancient blazure in royal banners borne,
We'll blazon with the Sunburst, star of thy destined morn,
To lead for ever the World's Hope Forlorn.
Set in hope's hue, our ancient blue on royal banners borne;

And green the Shamrock long shall shine, no more forlorn!







Home: PoetryExplorer.net