Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BLARNEY STONE, by JOHN GODFREY SAXE Poet's Biography First Line: In blarney castle, on a crumbling tower Last Line: Has kissed, -- not calvary, -- but the blarney stone! Subject(s): Blarney Castle, Ireland; Stones; Granite; Rocks | ||||||||
I. IN Blarney Castle, on a crumbling tower, There lies a stone (above your ready reach), Which to the lips imparts, 't is said, the power Of facile falsehood, and persuasive speech; And hence, of one who talks in such a tone, The peasants say, "He's kissed the Blarney Stone!" II. Thus, when I see some flippant touristswell With secrets wrested from an Emperor, And hear him vaunt his bravery, and tell How once he snubbed a Marquis, I infer The man came back -- if but the truth were known -- By way of Cork, and kissed the Blarney Stone! III. So, when I hear a shallow dandy boast (In the long ear that marks a brother dunce) What precious favors ladies' lips have lost, To his advantage, I suspect, at once. The fellow's lying; that the dog alone (Enough for him!) has kissed the Blar ney Stone! IV. When some fine lady, -- ready to defame An absent beauty, with as sweet a grace, -- With seeming rapture greets a hated name, And lauds her rival to her wondering face; E'en Charity herself must freely own Some women, too, have kissed the Blarney Stone! V When sleek attorneys, whose seductive tongues, Smooth with the unction of a golden fee, "Breathe forth huge falsehoods from capacious lungs" (The words are Juvenal's), 't is plain to see A lawyer's genius is n't all his own; The specious rogue has kissed the Blarney Stone! VI. When the false pastor, from his fainting flock Withholds the Bread of Life, the gospel news, To give them dainty words, lest he should shock The fragile fabric of the paying pews, Who but must feel, the man, to Grace unknown, Has kissed, -- not Calvary, -- but the Blarney Stone! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...STONE'S SECRET by MARGARET AVISON CONTRA MORTEM: THE STONE by HAYDEN CARRUTH NAMING FOR LOVE by HAYDEN CARRUTH OF THE STONES OF THE PLACE by ROBERT FROST THE EYE IN THE ROCK by JOHN HAINES THE HEAD ON THE TABLE by JOHN HAINES DEATH AND CUPID; AN ALLEGORY by JOHN GODFREY SAXE |
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