Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IOLAIRE; LINES WRITTEN IN THE NORTH DEA ON BOARD THE S.Y. IOLAIRE, by CHARLES WHITWORTH WYNNE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IOLAIRE; LINES WRITTEN IN THE NORTH DEA ON BOARD THE S.Y. IOLAIRE, by                    
First Line: This was the land that the norseman plough'd!
Last Line: The phantom hosts of the norsemen glide.
Alternate Author Name(s): Cayzer, Charles
Subject(s): Sailing & Sailors; Sea; Vikings; Ocean


I

THIS was the land that the Norseman plough'd!
Here lay his furrows, there his shroud.
A thousand years ... Oh, what are they?—
But the romance of yesterday!
Iolaire! Iolaire!
Dance in the moonbeams free and fair.
Thou art a Viking's chosen bride,
Speed-away, speed-away over the tide!

II

And these same streamers that we chase
Have tost their foam in the Viking's face.
A thousand years ... And the rolling billow
Will rest our sons on the Norseman's pillow!
Iolaire! Iolaire!
Shake out the moonbeams from thy hair!
Scatter thy jewels on the tide,
For thou art a Viking's joy and pride!

III

Breeze of the Norland! fresh and strong,
Blow us a stave of the Viking's song:
One short hour of the Norseman's quest—
The Celtic maid with her snow-white breast.
Iolaire! Iolaire!
The stars are bright, and the night is fair,
Whilst over the moonlit waters wide
The phantom hosts of the Norsemen glide.





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