I sat within the valley green, I sat me with my true love. My sad heart strove the two between-- The old love and the new love. The old for her, the new that made Me think on Ireland dearly; While soft the wind blew down the glade And shook the golden barley. 'Twas hard the woeful words to frame, To break the ties that bound us; 'Twas harder still to bear the shame Of foreign chains around us. And so I said, "The mountain glen I'll seek at morning early, And join the brave United men," While soft winds shook the barley. While sad I kissed away her tears, My fond arms around her flinging, The foemen's shot burst on our ears, From out the wild wood ringing; The bullet pierced my true love's side, In life's young spring so early, And on my breast in blood she died, When soft winds shook the barley. But blood for blood without remorse I've ta'en at Oulart Hollow; I've placed my true love's clay-cold corse Where I full soon shall follow; And round her grave I wander drear, Noon, night, and morning early, With breaking heart whene'er I hear The wind that shakes the barley! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CONTRA MORTEM: THE MOON by HAYDEN CARRUTH OLD MEN ON THE COURTHOUSE LAWN, MURRAY, KENTUCKY by JAMES GALVIN PLEDGE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON DOWN BY THE CARIB SEA: 3. TEESTAY by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE BOOK OF STONES AND LILIES by AMY LOWELL |