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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DEATH-SONG OF TURANN, by JOHN TODHUNTER Poet's Biography
First Line: Low lie your heads this day
Last Line: And with it I lie low!
Subject(s): Grief; Sorrow; Sadness
First Line: Low lie your heads this day
Last Line: And with it I lie low!
Subject(s): Grief; Sorrow; Sadness
LOW lie your heads this day,
My sons! my sons!
The strong in their pride go by me,
Saying: 'Where are thy sons?'
They spit on my grief, they sully
The snows of my age upon me,
Sonless I stand in Tara,
A laughter, a lonely shame.
How shall I walk in strength
In the gathering of the chiefs?
A shaking leaf is my valour,
Wanting your spears about me.
How shall I sit in honour
In the counsel of the kings?
My beard of wisdom the scorner
Shall pluck, with none to defend me.
Happy the dead lie down,
Not knowing the loss of children:
My life in your grave lies dead,
And I go down to my children.
Without you, my hoary age
Is a faltering of the feet.
Without you, my knees that tremble
Go stumbling down to the grave.
Bad is life to the father
In the house without a son,
Fallen is the House of Turann,
And with it I lie low!
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