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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
IRISH MELODIES, by JOHN TODHUNTER Poet's Biography First Line: A voice beside the dim enchanted river Last Line: From the enchantment of nine hundred years. | |||
[Inscribed to the memory of Catherine Hayes.] A voice beside the dim enchanted river, Out of the twilight, where the brooding trees Hear Shannon's Druid waters chant for ever Tales of dead Kings and Bards and Shanachies; A girl's young voice out of the twilight, singing Old songs beside the legendary stream; A girl's clear voice, o'er the wan waters ringing, Beats with its wild wings at the Gates of Dream. The flagger-leaves whereon shy dew-drops glisten Are swaying, swaying gently to the sound, The meadow-sweet and spearmint, as they listen, Breathe wistfully their wizard balm around; And there, alone with her lone heart and heaven, Thrushlike she sings, and lets her voice go free, Her soul of all its hidden longing shriven Soars on wild wings with her wild melody. Sweet in its plaintive Irish modulations, Her fresh young voice, tuned to old sorrow, seems The passionate cry of countless generations, Keens in her breast as there she sings and dreams. No more sad voice, for now the dawn is breaking Through the long night, through Ireland's night of tears, New songs wake in the morn of her awaking From the enchantment of nine hundred years. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DEIRDRE'S FAREWELL TO ALBA by JOHN TODHUNTER DEIRDRE'S GREAT LAMENTATION FOR THE SONS OF USNACH by JOHN TODHUNTER THE DEATH-SONG OF TURANN by JOHN TODHUNTER THE LAMENT OF AIDEEN FOR OSCAR by JOHN TODHUNTER THE MARSEILLAISE by JOHN TODHUNTER THE SWANS' LAMENT FOR THE DESOLATION OF LIR by JOHN TODHUNTER |
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