Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE WILD GEESE, by DORA SIGERSON SHORTER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WILD GEESE, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: I walked by esknahinny at the waning of the moon
Last Line: The wild geese, the wild geese, they have come home once more.
Alternate Author Name(s): Sigerson, Dora; Shorter, Mrs. Clement
Subject(s): Geese; Ireland; Irish


"Wild geese are very numerous in this district, especially around Lough
Esknahinny." — Cork Examiner, December 12, 1916.

I WALKED by Esknahinny at the waning of the moon,
As star by star came peeping to some celestial tune.
The little waves crept to me to call and fall away,
O lone I was and lonesome to meet the breaking day.

I heard wind voices whisper and leaned to hear them speak;
I saw the moving shadows — and feared to turn and seek.
The slender reeds were shaking between me and the light,
And loneliness fell from me with the treasure of the night.

I heard dark wings flap by me towards the rising sun,
Dear birds so swift in passing I blessed them every one.
The wild geese had come back again, they passed me in the night.
Between me and the waning moon I watched them in their flight.

I had walked the paths of Kerry and dared not say the word;
I had trod the roads of Leinster all broken by the sword.
O Ulster, Munster, Connacht, He gave Who can restore,
The Wild Geese, the Wild Geese, they have come home once more.





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