Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ORANGE AND GREEN, by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ORANGE AND GREEN, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: The night was falling dreary
Last Line: Of orange and of green.


THE night was falling dreary,
In merry Bandon town,
When, in his cottage weary,
An Orangeman lay down.
The summer sun in splendour
Had set upon the vale,
And shouts of 'No surrender!'
Arose upon the gale.

Beside the waters, laving
The feet of aged trees,
The Orange banners waving,
Flew boldly in the breeze --
In mighty chorus meeting,
A hundred voices join,
And fife and drum were beating
The 'Battle of the Boyne.'

Ha! tow'rd his cottage hieing,
What form is speeding now,
From yonder thicket flying,
With blood upon his brow?
'Hide -- hide me, worthy stranger,
Though Green my colour be,
And, in the day of danger,
May heaven remember thee!

'In yonder vale contending
Alone against that crew,
My life and limbs defending,
An Orangeman I slew;
Hark! hear that fearful warning,
There's death in every tone --
O, save my life till morning,
And heav'n prolong your own!

The Orange heart was melted
In pity to the Green;
He heard the tale, and felt it
His very soul within,
'Dread not that angry warning
Though death be in its tone --
I'll save your life till morning,
Or I will lose my own.'

Now, round his lowly dwelling,
The angry torrent press'd,
A hundred voices swelling,
The Orangeman addressed --
'Arise, arise, and follow
The chase along the plain!
In yonder stony hollow
Your only son is slain!'

With rising shouts they gather
Upon the track amain,
And leave the childless father
Aghast with sudden pain.
He seeks the righted stranger
In covert where he lay --
'Arise!' he said, 'all danger
Is gone and passed away.

'I had a son -- one only,
One loved as my life,
Thy hand has left me lonely,
In that accursed strife.
I pledged my word to save thee
Until the storm should cease,
I keep the pledge I gave thee --
Arise, and go in peace!'

The stranger soon departed
From that unhappy vale:
The father, broken-hearted,
Lay brooding o'er that tale.
Full twenty summers after,
To silver turned his beard,
And yet the sound of laughter
From him was never heard.

The night was falling dreary
In merry Wexford town,
When, in his cabin, weary,
A peasant laid him down.
And many a song was singing
Along the summer vale,
And Wexford town was ringing
With shouts of 'Granua Uile!'

Beside the waters, laving
The feet of aged trees,
The green flag, gaily waving,
Was spread against the breeze --
In mighty chorus meeting,
Loud voices filled the town,
And fife and drum were beating,
'Down, Orangemen, lie down!

Hark! 'mid the stirring clangour
That woke the echoes there,
Loud voices, high in anger,
Rise on the evening air.
Like billows of the ocean,
He sees them hurry on --
And, 'mid the wild commotion,
An Orangeman alone.

'My hair,' he said, 'is hoary,
And feeble is my hand,
And I could tell a story
Would shame your cruel band.
Full twenty years and over
Have changed my heart and brow.
And I am grown a lover
Of peace and concord now.

'It was not thus I greeted
Your brother of the Green;
When fainting and defeated
I freely took him in.
I pledged my word to save him,
From vengeance rushing on,
I kept the pledge I gave him,
Though he had kill'd my son.'

That aged peasant heard him,
And knew him as he stood,
Remembrance kindly stirr'd him,
And tender gratitude.
With gushing tears of pleasure,
He pierced the listening train,
'I'm here to pay the measure
Of kindness back again.'

Upon his bosom falling,
That old man's tears came down;
Deep memory recalling
That cot and fatal town.
'The hand that would offend thee,
My being first shall end;
I'm living to defend thee,
My saviour and my friend!'

He said, and slowly turning,
Address'd the wondering crowd,
With fervent spirit burning,
He told the tale aloud.
Now pressed the warm beholders,
Their aged foe to greet;
They raised him on their shoulders
And chaired him through the street.

As he had saved that stranger
From peril scowling dim,
So in his day of danger
Did heav'n remember him.
By joyous crowds attended,
The worthy pair were seen,
And their flags that day were blended
Of Orange and of Green.





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