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LEINSTER, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I try to knead and spin, but my life is low the while
Last Line: The foolishness is on me, and the wild tears fall!
Variant Title(s): Irish Peasant Song
Subject(s): Ireland; Irish


I TRY to knead and spin, but my life is low the while.
Oh, I long to be alone, and walk abroad a mile;
Yet if I walk alone, and think of naught at all,
Why from me that's young should the wild tears fall?

The shower-stricken earth, the earth-colored streams,
They breathe on me awake, and moan to me in dreams;
And yonder ivy fondling the broke castle-wall,
It pulls upon my heart till the wild tears fall.

The cabin-door looks down a furze-lighted hill,
And far as Leighlin Cross the fields are green and still;
But once I hear the blackbird in Leighlin hedges call,
The foolishness is on me, and the wild tears fall!





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