Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A DIRGE FOR KING NIALL OF THE NINE HOSTAGES (A.D. 405), by ANONYMOUS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A DIRGE FOR KING NIALL OF THE NINE HOSTAGES (A.D. 405), by                    
First Line: When we hosted forth afar
Last Line: Host on host we faced the fight / but never fled the foe
Subject(s): "niall, King Of Ireland (d. 405);war;


TUIRN, SON OF TORNA.

When we hosted forth afar
With Echu's son of valour,
Yellow as the primrose star
I saw his tresses shine.

TORNA.

For the fancy that compares
The crown of golden pallor,
The primrose wears, with Niall's hairs
A bond-maid should be thine

TUIRN, SON OF TORNA.

Brows and lashes dusky soft
Of equal arch and cluster;
Eyes as woad flowers in a croft
Or hyacinthine blue;
Then the carmine of his cheeks
Unchanging in their lustre:
Not the fairy fox-glove streaks
May woods with such a hue.

TORNA.

Laughter rare, red lips that ne'er
Reproved with scornful blaming,
Hero front in battle brunt
Eclipsing all beside;
A harvest moon, a fiery noon,
A beacon fiercely flaming,
A dragon ship--he glowed and rode
On war's tumultuous tide.

TUIRN, SON OF TORNA.

Keene on keene has Kerry poured,
Above his tresses flaxen;
Till my grief heart-high is stored
For Muredach's grandson great.
Erin, Alba now shall dread
The onset of the Saxon--
Now that Echu's son lies dead--
Oh, black reproachful fate.

TORNA.

Saxon hordes shall shouting come
And swarms of Lombard strangers;
From the hour that Niall lay dumb
Are Gael and Pict dismayed.

TUIRN, SON OF TORNA.

Ah, that still on Tara's tower,
Bright star in darkest dangers,
With tresses of the iris flower,
He stood, our stalwart aid!

TORNA.

Great delight, great peace it was,
Dear son of my affection,
After thee for some high cause
In company to go.

TUIRN, SON OF TORNA.

Hero of the shoulder white,
Beneath whose strong protection
Host on host we faced the fight
But never fled the foe.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net