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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ORANGE AND GREEN, by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN 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. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ADARE by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN GILLE MACHREE (BRIGHTENER OF MY HEART) by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN LINES TO A SEAGULL by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN MITCHELSTOWN CAVERNS by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN NOCTURNE by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN O BRAZIL, THE ISLE OF THE BLEST by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN SHANID CASTLE by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN THE BRIDAL OF MALAHIDE by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN THE INVASION: SONG. CEAD MILE FAILTE, ELIM! by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN |
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