Of noble minds and noble hearts Old Ireland has goodly store; But thou wert still the noblest son That e'er the Isle of Erin bore. A generous race, and strong to dare, With hearts as true as purest gold, With hands to soothe as well as strike, As generous as they are bold, -- This is the race thou lovedst so; And knowing them, I can but know The glory thy whole being felt To think, to act, to be, the Celt! Not Celt alone, America Her arms about thee hath entwined; The noblest traits of each grand race In thee were happily combined. As sweet of song as strong of speech, Thy great heart beat in every line. No narrow partisan wert thou; The cause of all oppressed was thine! The world is cruel still and cold, But who can doubt thy life has told? Though wrong and sorrow still are rife Old Earth is better for thy life! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BATTLE OF THE BALTIC by THOMAS CAMPBELL YOUR MISSION by ELLEN M. HUNTINGTON GATES VENUS AND ADONIS by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE IMAGES: 5 by RICHARD ALDINGTON JIM'S WHISTLE by ALEXANDER ANDERSON THE SECOND COVENANT by WILLIAM ROSE BENET |