Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A LAMENT FOR THE RED EARL, by RICHARD MAHONY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A LAMENT FOR THE RED EARL, by                    
First Line: His grave is lone by gaudalquiver
Last Line: Cold as my hero's clay.
Subject(s): War


His grave is lone by Guadalquiver,
And low is his young heart laid,
Where the quiet waves of The Yellow River
Sleep in the linden shade;
But hard and cold
Lies foreign mould
Beneath that royal head.

Oh, had he fallen in the ringing battle
Out by Dungannon's side,
Where the Norman rout, like driven cattle,
Choked Avon's swirling tide:
Then should my grief
Find proud relief
When I sang how the Red Earl died.

But I am come to this pale river,
Weeping, from far away,
Where my dear Avon rolls for ever,
Pure as the dewy ray,
When soft and bright
The summer night
Kisses the lingering day.

Oh, lovingly that light is lying
On grey Dunluce's hold,
Where the breath of night comes shoreward sighing,
Low sighing as of old;
And, soft as sleep,
The shadows creep
Far up the Spears of Gold.

But I must watch by this pale river,
Weary and lone and grey:
And my grief's tide must roll for ever
Wearing this heart away--
Deep as the wave.
Dark as his grave,
Cold as my hero's clay.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net