An Eclipse

I had loved the pretty birds that by my window sung— The gentle thrush that had his nest the perfumed pines among; The chaffinch with his sudden note, his song so clear and bold; The sad rhyme of the robin, too, that came when winds grew cold;The happy lark whose benison fell from the sunny sky;…

The kine of my father, they are straying from my keeping; The young goat’s at mischief, but little can I do: For all through the night did I hear the Banshee keening; O youth of my loving, and is it well with you?All through the night sat my mother with my sorrow;…

I crave of you pardon to-day, Yesterday I was mad when I spoke; But the dream of our friendship was fair, And my heart seemed to die when I woke.…

My Future lay cradled asleep; I kissed the sweet mouth and she smiled With a promise of all she should be, Womanhood crowning the child—…

Hark! in the still night. Who goes there? “Fifteen dead men" Why do they wait? “Hasten, comrade, death is so fair" Now comes their Captain through the dim gate.Sixteen dead men! What on their sword?…

At the grey dawn, amongst the felling leaves, A little bird outside my window swung, High on a topmost branch he trilled his song, And “Ireland! Ireland! Ireland!” ever sung.Take me, I cried, back to my island home;…

Thrice in the night the priest arose From broken sleep to kneel and pray. “Hush, poor ghost, till the red cock crows, And I a Mass for your soul may say.”Thrice he went to the chamber cold,…

The oak is a brave tree that groweth in the wood— The oak, and the pine, and the aspen tree— Strong his mighty timbers, that have the years withstood, Safe he carries the sailor on the sea,…