Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE YOUNG PATRIOT LEADER, by JANE FRANCESCA WILDE Poet's Biography First Line: Oh! He stands beneath the sun, that glorious fated one Last Line: So we follow but that young chief's guiding. Alternate Author Name(s): Speranza; Elgee, Jane Francesca; Wilde, William Robert Wills, Mrs. Subject(s): Nationalism - Ireland | ||||||||
OH! he stands beneath the sun, that glorious Fated One Like a martyr or conqueror, wearing On his brow a mighty doom, be it glory, be it gloom, The shadow of a crown it is bearing. At his Cyclopean stroke the proud heart of man awoke, Like a king from his lordly down-lying; And whereso'er he trod, like the footstep of a God, Was a trail of light the gloom outvying. In his beauty and his youth, the Apostle of the Truth, Goes he forth with the words of salvation, And a noble madness falls on each spirit he enthralls, As he chants his wild Paeans to the nation. As a tempest in its force, as a torrent in its course, So his words fiercely sweep all before them, And they smite like two-edged swords, those undaunted thunder-words, On all hearts, as tho' angels did implore them. See our pale cheeks how they flush, as the noble visions rush On our soul's most dark desolation, And the glorious lyric words, Right, Freedom, and our Swords! Wake the strong chords of life to vibration. Aye; right noble, in good sooth, seemed he battling for the truth, When he poured the full tide of his scorn Down upon the tyrant's track, like an Alpine cataract: Ah! such men wait an AEon to be born. So he stood before us then, one of God's eternal men, Flashing eye, and hero mould of stature, With a glory and a light circling round his brow of might, That revealed his right royal kingly nature. Lo! he leadeth on our bands, Freedom's banner in his hands, Let us aid him, not with words, but doing; With the marches of the brave, prayers of might that strike and save, Not a slaving spirit's abject suing. Thus in glory is he seen, tho' his years are yet but green, The anointed as head of our nation; For high Heaven hath decreed that a soul like his must lead, Let us kneel, then, in deep adoration. Oh! his mission is divine; dash down the Lotus wine -- Too long is your tranced sleep abiding; For by Him who gave us life, we shall conquer in the strife, So we follow but that Young Chief's guiding. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NATIONALITY by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF CONSCIENCE by SEAMUS HEANEY A SONG OF FREEDOM by ALICE MILLIGAN REGINA MENDOSENA by NATHALIA CRANE A NATION ONCE AGAIN by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS A PLEA FOR THE BOG-TROTTERS by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS A SECOND PLEA FOR THE BOG-TROTTERS by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS CELTS AND SAXONS by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS LAMENT FOR THE MILESIANS by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS THE FAMINE YEAR by JANE FRANCESCA WILDE A LAMENT by JANE FRANCESCA WILDE A REMONSTRANCE; ADDRESSED TO D. FLORENCE M'CARTHY, M.R.I.A. by JANE FRANCESCA WILDE |
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