I. Ye songs that resound in the homes of our island- That wake the wild echoes by valley and highland- That kindle the cold with their forefather's story- That point to the ardent the pathway of glory!- āàYe send to the banish'd, āàO'er ocean's far wave, āàThe hope that had vanish'd- āàThe vow of the brave; And teach each proud despot of loftiest station, To pale at your spell-word, sweet songs of The Nation! II. Sweet songs! ye reveal, through the vista of ages, Our monarchs and heroes-our minstrels and sages- The pomp of Emania-the glories of Temor, When Erin was free from the Saxon defamer- āàThe green banner flying- āàThe rush of the Gael- āàThe Sassenach dying- āàHis matron's wild wail- These glories forgotten, with magic creation Burst bright at your spell-word, sweet songs of The Nation! III. The minstrels who waken these wild notes of freedom, Have hands for green Erin-if Erin should need 'em; And hearts for the wrong'd one, wherever he ranges, From Zembla to Timor-from Shannon to Ganges- āàAnd hate for his foeman, āàAll hatred above- āàAnd love for dear woman, āàSeraphical love- But chiefest the fair ones whose eyes' animation Is the spell-word that prompts the sweet songs of The Nation! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FACADE: 21. THE OWL by EDITH SITWELL GREENNESS by ANGELINA WELD GRIMKE ART ABOVE NATURE: TO JULIA by ROBERT HERRICK RECONCILIATION by GEORGE WILLIAM RUSSELL ODES: BOOK 2: ODE 12. ON RECOVERING FROM A FIT OF SICKNESS IN COUNTRY by MARK AKENSIDE BOX-CAR LETTERS by KARLE WILSON BAKER THE OPTIMIST AND THE PESSIMIST; A DIALOGUE by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |