Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BANKS OF ANNER, by ROBERT DWYER JOYCE



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BANKS OF ANNER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: In purple robes old sliavnamon
Last Line: Upon the banks of anner!
Subject(s): Anner River, Ireland; Rivers


IN purple robes old Sliavnamon
Towers monarch of the mountains,
The first to catch the smiles of dawn,
With all his woods and fountains; --
His streams dance down by tower and town,
But none since Time began her
Met mortal sight so pure and bright
As winding, wandering Anner.

In hillside's gleam or woodland's gloom,
O'er fairy height and hollow,
Upon her banks gay flowerets bloom,
Where'er her course I follow.
And halls of pride tower o'er her tide,
And gleaming bridges span her,
As, laughing gay, she winds away,
The gentle, murmuring Anner.

There gallant men, for freedom born,
With friendly grasp will meet you;
There lovely maids, as bright as morn,
With sunny smiles will greet you;
And there they strove to raise above
The Red, Green Ireland's banner, --
There yet its fold they'll see unrolled
Upon the banks of Anner.

'T is there we'll stand, with bosoms proud,
True soldiers of our sireland,
When freedom's wind blows strong and loud,
And floats the flag of Ireland.
Let tyrants quake, and doubly shake
Each traitor and trepanner,
When once we raise our camp-fire's blaze
Upon the banks of Anner.

O God! be with the good old days,
The days so light and airy,
When to blithe friends I sang my lays
In gallant, gay Tipperary;
When fair maids' sighs and witching eyes
Made my young heart the planner
Of castles rare, built in the air,
Upon the banks of Anner!

The morning sun may fail to show
His light the earth illuming;
Old Sliavnamon to blush and glow
In autumn's purple blooming;
And shamrocks green no more be seen,
And breezes cease to fan her,
Ere I forget the friends I met
Upon the banks of Anner!





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