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SHAMROCK SONG, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: O, the red rose may be fair
Alternate Author Name(s): Hinkson, Katharine Tynan


O, the red rose may be fair,
O, the red rose may be fair,
And the lily statelier;
And the lily statelier;
But my shamrock, one in three,
But my shamrock, one in three,
Takes the very heart of me!
Takes the very heart of me!




Many a lover hath the rose
Many a lover hath the rose
When june's musk-wind breathes and blows:
When june's musk-wind breathes and blows:
And in many a bower is heard
And in many a bower is heard
Her sweet praise from bee and bird.
Her sweet praise from bee and bird.




Through the gold hours dreameth she,
Through the gold hours dreameth she,
In her warm heart passionately,
In her warm heart passionately,
Her fair face hung languid-wise:
Her fair face hung languid-wise:
O, her breath of honey and spice!
O, her breath of honey and spice!




Like a fair saint virginal
Like a fair saint virginal
Stands your lily, silver and tall;
Stands your lily, silver and tall;
Over all the flowers that be
Over all the flowers that be
Is my shamrock dear to me.
Is my shamrock dear to me.




Shines the lily like the sun,
Shines the lily like the sun,
Crystal-pure, a cold, sweet nun;
Crystal-pure, a cold, sweet nun;
With her austere lip she sings
With her austere lip she sings
To her heart of heavenly things.
To her heart of heavenly things.




Gazeth through a night of June
Gazeth through a night of June
To her sister-saint, the moon;
To her sister-saint, the moon;
With the stars communeth long
With the stars communeth long
Of the angels and their song.
Of the angels and their song.




But when summer died last year
But when summer died last year
Rose and lily died with her;
Rose and lily died with her;
Shamrock stayeth every day,
Shamrock stayeth every day,
Be the winds or gold or grey.
Be the winds or gold or grey.




Irish hills, as grey as the dove,
Irish hills, as grey as the dove,
Know the little plant I love;
Know the little plant I love;
Warm and fair it mantles them
Warm and fair it mantles them
Stretching down from throat to hem.
Stretching down from throat to hem.




And it laughs o'er many a vale,
And it laughs o'er many a vale,
Sheltered safe from storm and gale;
Sheltered safe from storm and gale;
Sky and sun and stars thereof
Sky and sun and stars thereof
Love the gentle plant I love.
Love the gentle plant I love.




Soft it clothes the ruined floor
Soft it clothes the ruined floor
Of many an abbey, grey and hoar,
Of many an abbey, grey and hoar,
And the still home of the dead
And the still home of the dead
With its green is carpeted.
With its green is carpeted.




Roses for an hour of love,
Roses for an hour of love,
With the joy and pain thereof:
With the joy and pain thereof:
Stand my lilies white to see
Stand my lilies white to see
All for prayer and purity.
All for prayer and purity.




These are white as the harvest moon,
These are white as the harvest moon,
Roses flush like the heart of June;
Roses flush like the heart of June;
But my shamrock, brave and gay,
But my shamrock, brave and gay,
Glads the tired eyes every day.
Glads the tired eyes every day.




O, the red rose shineth rare,
O, the red rose shineth rare,
And the lily saintly fair;
And the lily saintly fair;
But my shamrock, one in three,
But my shamrock, one in three,
Takes the inmost heart of me!
Takes the inmost heart of me!








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