28.04.2014 Views

Poems MacCarthy, Florence Denis

Poems MacCarthy, Florence Denis

Poems MacCarthy, Florence Denis

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

270<br />

Our hatred of wrong and our worship of right--<br />

The hopes that we cherish, the ills we deplore,<br />

All centre within his heart's innermost core,<br />

Which, gathered in one mighty current, are flung<br />

To the ends of the earth from his thunder-toned tongue!<br />

Till the Indian looks up, and the valiant Afghan<br />

Draws his sword at the echo from far Darrynane!<br />

But here he is only the friend and the father,<br />

Who from children's sweet lips truest wisdom can gather,<br />

And seeks from the large heart of Nature to borrow<br />

Rest for the present and strength for the morrow!<br />

Oh! who that e'er saw him with children about him<br />

And heard his soft tones of affection could doubt him?<br />

My life on the truth of the heart of that man<br />

That throbs like the Chieftain's of wild Darrynane!<br />

Oh! wild Darrynane, on thy ocean-washed shore,<br />

Shall the glad song of mariners echo once more?<br />

Shall the merchants, and minstrels, and maidens of Spain,<br />

Once again in their swift ships come over the main?<br />

Shall the soft lute be heard, and the gay youths of France<br />

Lead our blue-eyed young maidens again to the dance?<br />

Graceful and shy as thy fawns, Killenane,[117]<br />

Are the mind-moulded maidens of far Darrynane!<br />

Dear land of the south, as my mind wandered o'er<br />

All the joys I have felt by thy magical shore,<br />

From those lakes of enchantment by oak-clad Glena<br />

To the mountainous passes of bold Iveragh!<br />

Like birds which are lured to a haven of rest,<br />

By those rocks far away on the ocean's bright breast--[118]<br />

Thus my thoughts loved to linger, as memory ran<br />

O'er the mountains and valleys of wild Darrynane!<br />

114. "In the mountains of Slievelougher, and other parts of this<br />

county, the country people, towards the end of June, cut the coarse<br />

mountain grass, called by them 'fenane'; towards August this grass grows<br />

white."--Smith's Kerry.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!