Classic and Contemporary Poetry
WE MUST NOT FAIL, by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS Poet's Biography First Line: We must not fail, we must not fail Last Line: We shall not fail -- we shall not fail! Subject(s): Nationalism - Ireland | ||||||||
I. WE must not fail, we must not fail, However fraud or force assail; By honour, pride, and policy, By Heaven itself! -- we must be free. II. Time had already thinned our chain, Time would have dulled our sense of pain; By service long, and suppliance vile, We might have won our owner's smile. III. We spurned the thought, our prison burst, And dared the despot to the worst; Renewed the strife of centuries, And flung our banner to the breeze. IV. We called the ends of earth to view The gallant deeds we swore to do; They knew us wronged, they knew us brave, And, all we asked, they freely gave. V. We took the starving peasant's mite To aid in winning back his right, We took the priceless trust of youth; Their freedom must redeem our truth. VI. We promised loud, and boasted high, "To break our country's chains, or die;" And, should we quail, that country's name Will be the synonyme of shame. VII. Earth is not deep enough to hide The coward slave who shrinks aside; Hell is not hot enough to scathe The ruffian wretch who breaks his faith. VIII. But -- calm, my soul! -- we promised true Her destined work our land shall do; Thought, courage, patience will prevail! We shall not fail -- we shall not fail! | 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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