In the dark night I waited for the boat
that bore his body as its dearest freight
and,with long time to wait
I cast in mind our country's horoscope
Striving to find the future from the past
From courage to the people known by rote
the laughing face,the unimpeded mind
the heart that slew itself through being kind
until she loomed at last
With light on either mast
And turned our Liffey to a Styx of hope
How often had I lain awake and heard
the pent up city trembling to the shot
I shall forget it not
And he alone the quarry for the lead
of each licentious savage on him set?
How often have I played that still they erred
when through the streets they dashed
and house and house was smashed
Now Death holds in a net
what England could not get
For forty thousand pounds upon his head
What master spy,what bloodhound nosed him out?
Surely he is our country's supreme foe
and surely he shall go
down the memorial ages.
He shall have the fame of Judas who McMurrogh clad
What alien schemeer or deluded lout
what Cain has caught his country by the throat?
what devil to destruction could devote
the brightest heart we had
while he was yet a lad
and his unblemished body to the grave?
When in the Mouth of Blossom your lips paled
the pale with resolution re-imbued
the gathering moltitude
with whom it is not lucky to contend
the Race becomes a Collins in this fray
The bravest of your land are now enmailed
So keep with Death your long acquainted tryst
no death can make your famous soul desist
that was in danger gay
from pointing out the way
to walk with you ennobled to the land
O.G. , 1922
**SHAM**
********************************
~~ C'e' che ormai che ho imparato a sognare,non smettero' ~~
Negrita