Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE LITTLE PEOPLE'S CALL, by WILLIAM A. PHELON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE LITTLE PEOPLE'S CALL, by                    
First Line: What is this? They say the irish fighting spirit
Last Line: Strings—it's the little people calling, calling you to war!
Subject(s): Ireland; War; World War I; Irish; First World War


WHAT is this? They say the Irish fighting spirit flickers down in smoke without
a flame?
And they say the Irish do not go to battle? It's a lie—or else, it's
Ireland's shame!
Where there's fighting for the right, you'll find the Irish—they will never
run—they'll stand or fall—
But, if some mistaken thought holds back the Irish, let them listen—to the
Little People's call!

If you're Irish, then you've heard the fairies calling you of
mornings—and you say you don't know what they're calling, calling for?
If you're Irish, then you've felt the fairies tugging at your heart-
strings—it's the Little People calling, calling you to war!

Yes, we know the Sassenach has wronged you—yes, we know the curse that's
held since Cromwell's day—
But that day is gone—the sunshine's dawning, dawning, and the old, old hate
is swept away!
If you're Irish, you've a soul that hears the fairies—hears the Little
People calling in the dell—
It's the Little People calling on their loved ones, "Come, oh come, and save the
world from hell!"

If you're Irish, you'll forget the old wrong-doings—you will only hear the
Little People's call—
You will only ask the chance to grip a rifle—you'll come on, a-
fighting—Irish—that is all!
When it's over, there will be a dawn for Ireland—there'll be freedom for
the Erin that you love—
There'll be honor, with the best of all, for Ireland—you'll have won it,
won it, from the God above!

If you're Irish, then you've heard the fairies calling you of
mornings—and you say you don't know what they're calling, calling for?
If you're Irish, then you've felt the fairies tugging at your heart-
strings—it's the Little People calling, calling you to war!





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