Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE LAMENTATION OF BALVA THE MONK, by WILLIAM SHARP


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE LAMENTATION OF BALVA THE MONK, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Balva the old monk I am called: when I was young, balva honeymouth
Last Line: "and a voice that whispered ""balva honeymouth, drink, I am thy wine!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Macleod, Fiona
Subject(s): Lament; Love - Loss Of; Memory; Monks


Balva the old monk I am called: when I was young, Balva Honeymouth.
That was before Colum the White came to Iona in the West.
She whom I loved was a woman whom I won out of the South,
And I had a good heaven with my lips on hers and with breast to breast.

Balva the old monk I am called: were it not for the fear
That the soul of Colum the White would meet my soul in the Narrows
That sever the living and dead, I would rise up from here
And go back to where men pray with spears and arrows.

Balva the old monk I am called: ugh! ugh! the cold bell of the matins—'tis
dawn!
Sure it's a dream I have had that I was in a warm wood with the sun ashine,
And that against me in the pleasant greenness was a soft fawn,
And a voice that whispered "Balva Honeymouth, drink, I am thy wine!"





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


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