Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BROSNA'S BANKS, by JOHN DE JEAN FRAZER First Line: Yes, yes, I idled many an hour Last Line: Be green upon the brosna's banks. Subject(s): Brosna (river), Ireland | ||||||||
YES, yes, I idled many an hour, (O, would that I could idle now, In wooing back the withered flower Of health into my wasted brow!) But from my life's o'ershadowing close, My unimpassioned spirit ranks Among its happiest moments those I idled on the Brosna's banks. For there upon my boyhood broke The dreamy voice of nature first; And every word the vision spoke How deeply has my spirit nursed! A woman's love, a lyre, or pen, A rescued land, a nation's thanks, A friendship with the world, and then A grave upon the Brosna's banks. For these I sued and sought and strove, But now my youthful days are gone, In vain, in vain, -- for woman's love Is still a blessing to be won; And still my country's cheek is wet, The still unbroken fetter clanks, And I may not forsake her yet To die upon the Brosna's banks. Yet idle as those visions seem, They were a strange and faithful guide, When Heaven itself had scarce a gleam To light my darkened life beside; And if from grosser guilt escaped I feel no dying dread, the thanks Are due unto the Power that shaped My visious on the Brosna's banks. And love, I feel, will come at last, Albeit too late to comfort me; And fetters from the land be cast, Though I may not survive to see. If then the gifted, good, and brave Admit me to their glorious ranks, My memory may, though not my grave, Be green upon the Brosna's banks. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A LAMENT FOR THOMAS DAVIS by JOHN DE JEAN FRAZER THE BOG OF CLONDALLAGH by JOHN DE JEAN FRAZER THE HOLY WELLS by JOHN DE JEAN FRAZER ON AN INVITATION TO THE UNITED STATES by THOMAS HARDY WINTER WITH THE GULF STREAM by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: PETIT THE POET by EDGAR LEE MASTERS A WEATHER PROPHET by JANE BARLOW |
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