Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE GROVES OF BLARNEY, by RICHARD ALFRED MILLIKIN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE GROVES OF BLARNEY, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: The groves of blarney they look so charming
Last Line: From the blarney stone!
Alternate Author Name(s): Milliken, Richard Alfred
Subject(s): Blarney Castle, Ireland


THE groves of Blarney,
They look so charming,
Down by the purlings
Of sweet silent brooks,
All decked by posies
That spontaneous grew there,
Planted in order
In the rocky nooks.
'Tis there the daisy,
And the sweet carnation,
The blooming pink,
And the rose so fair;
Likewise the lily,
And the daffodilly--
All flowers that scent
The sweet open air.

'Tis Lady Jeffers
Owns this plantation;
Like Alexander,
Or like Helen fair,
There's no commander
In all the nation,
For regulation,
Can with her compare.
Such walls surround her,
That no nine-pounder
Could ever plunder
Her place of strength;
But Oliver Cromwell,
Her he did pommel,
And made a breach
In her battlement.

There is a cave where
No daylight enters,
But cats and badgers
Are for ever bred;
And mossed by nature
Makes it completer
Than a coach-and-six,
Or a downy bed.
'Tis there the lake is
Well stored with fishes,
And comely eels in
The verdant mud;
Besldes the leeches,
And groves of beeches,
Standing in order
To guard the flood.

There gravel walks are
For recreation,
And meditation
In sweet solitude.
'Tis there the lover
May hear the dove, or
The gentle plover,
In the afternoon;
And if a lady
Would be so engaging
As for to walk in
Those shady groves,
'Tis there the courtier
Might soon transport her
Into some fort, or
The 'sweet rock-close'.

There are statues gracing
This noble place in--
All heathen gods,
And nymphs so fair;
Bold Neptune, Caesar,
And Nebuchadnezzar,
All standing naked
In the open air!
There is a boat on
The lake to float on,
And lots of beauties
Which I can't entwine;
But were I a preacher,
Or a classic teacher,
In every feature
I'd make 'em shine!

There is a stone there
That whoever kisses,
Oh! he never misses
To grow eloquent.
'Tis he may clamber
To a lady's chamber,
Or become a member
Of Parliament:
A clever spouter
He'll sure turn out, or
An out-and-outer,
'To be let alone.'
Don't hope to hinder him,
Or to bewilder him;
Sure he 's a pilgrim
From the Blarney stone!





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