Classic and Contemporary Poetry
OH! FOR A STEED, by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS Poet's Biography First Line: Oh! For a steed, a rushing steed, and a blazing scimitar Last Line: To conquer if then to fall. Subject(s): Animals; Horses; Nationalism - Ireland | ||||||||
I. OH! for a steed, a rushing steed, and a blazing scimitar, To hunt from beauteous Italy the Austrian's red hussar To mock their boasts, And strew their hosts, And scatter their flags afar. II. Oh! for a steed, a rushing steed, and dear Poland gathered around, To smite her circle of savage foes, and smash them upon the ground; Nor hold my hand While, on the land, A foreigner foe was found. III. Oh! for a steed, a rushing steed, and a rifle that never failed, And a tribe of terrible prairie men, by desperate valour mailed, Till "stripes and stars," And Russian czars, Before the Red Indian quailed. IV. Oh! for a steed, a rushing steed, on the plains of Hindustan, And a hundred thousand cavaliers, to charge like a single man, Till our shirts were red, And the English fled, Like a cowardly caravan. V. Oh! for a steed, a rushing steed, with the Greeks a Marathon. Or a place in the Switzer phalanx, when the Morat men swept on, Like a pine-clad hill By an earthquake's will Hurled the valleys upon. VI. Oh! for a steed, a rushing steed, when Brian smote down the Dane, Or a place beside great Aodh O'Neill, when Bagenal the bold was slain, Or a waving crest And a lance in rest, With Bruce upon Bannoch plain. VII. Oh! for a steed, a rushing steed, on the Curragh of Kildare, And Irish squadrons ready to do, as they are ready to dare -- A hundred yards, And Holland's guards Drawn up to engage me there. VIII. Oh! for a steed, a rushing steed, and any good cause at all, Or else, if you will, a field on foot, or guarding a leaguered wall For freedom's right; In flushing fight To conquer if then to fall. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NATIONALITY by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF CONSCIENCE by SEAMUS HEANEY A SONG OF FREEDOM by ALICE MILLIGAN REGINA MENDOSENA by NATHALIA CRANE A NATION ONCE AGAIN by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS A PLEA FOR THE BOG-TROTTERS by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS A SECOND PLEA FOR THE BOG-TROTTERS by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS CELTS AND SAXONS by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS LAMENT FOR THE MILESIANS by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS CLARE'S DRAGOONS by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS FONTENOY by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS LAMENT FOR THE DEATH OF EOGHAN RUADH (OWEN ROE) O'NEIL by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS |
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