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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME, by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS Poet's Biography First Line: The dames of france are fond and free Last Line: From the girl I left behind me. | |||
The dames of France are fond and free, And Flemish lips are willing, And soft the maids of Italy, And Spanish eyes are thrilling; Still, though I bask beneath their smile, Their charms fail to bind me, And my heart falls back to Erin's Isle, To the girl I left behind me. For she's as fair as Shannon's side, And purer than its water But she refused to be my bride Though many a year I sought her; Yet, since to France I sailed away, Her letters oft remind me That I promised never to gainsay The girl I left behind me. She says, "My own dear love, come home, My friends are rich and many, Or else abroad with you I'll roam, A soldier stout as any; If you'll not come, nor let me go, I'll think you have resigned me," -- My heart nigh broke when I answered "No," To the girl I left behind me. For never shall my true love brave A life of war and toiling And never as a skulking slave I'll tread my native soil on; But were it free or to be freed, The battle's close would find me To Ireland bound, nor message need From the girl I left behind me. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FONTENOY by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS LAMENT FOR THE DEATH OF EOGHAN RUADH (OWEN ROE) O'NEIL by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS NATIONALITY by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS THE BOATMAN OF KINSALE by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS THE FLOWER OF FINAE by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS THE SACK OF BALTIMORE by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS THE WELCOME by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS A BALLAD OF FREEDOM by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS A CHRISTMAS SCENE; OR, LOVE IN THE COUNTRY by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS A NATION ONCE AGAIN by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS |
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