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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GILLE MACHREE (BRIGHTENER OF MY HEART), by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Gille machree
Last Line: And peace is ours for ever!


GILLE machree,
Sit down by me,
We now are joined and ne'er shall sever;
This hearth's our own,
Our hearts are one,
And peace is ours for ever!

When I was poor
Your father's door
Was closed against your constant lover;
With care and pain
I tried in vain
My fortunes to recover.
I said, 'To other lands I'd roam,
Where fate may smile on me, love;'
I said, 'Farewell, my own old home!'
And I said, 'Farewell to thee, love!'
Sing, Gille machree, etc.

I might have said,
My mountain maid,
Come live with me, your own true lover --
I know a spot,
A silent cot,
Your friends can ne'er discover,
Where gently flows the waveless tide
By one small garden only;
Where the heron waves his wings so wide,
And the linnet sings so lonely!
Sing, Gille machree, etc.

I might have said,
My mountain maid,
A father's right was never given
True hearts to curse
With tyrant force
That have been blest in heaven.
But then I said, 'In after years,
When thoughts of home shall find her,
My love may mourn with secret tears
Her friends thus left behind her.'
Sing, Gille machree, etc.

Oh no, I said,
My own dear maid,
For me, though all forlorn for ever,
That heart of thine
Shall ne'er repine
O'er slighted duty -- never!
From home and thee though wandering far,
A dreary fate be mine, love --
I'd rather live in endless war,
Than buy my peace with thine, love.
Sing, Gille machree, etc.

Far, far away,
By night and day,
I toiled to win a golden treasure;
And golden gains
Repaid my pains
In fair and shining measure.
I sought again my native land,
Thy father welcomed me, love;
I poured my gold into his hand,
And my guerdon found in thee, love.

Sing, Gille machree,
Sit down by me,
We now are joined, and ne'er shall sever;
This hearth's our own,
Our hearts are one,
And peace is ours for ever!





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