LIKE the bright lamp that shone in Kildare's holy fane, And burn'd through long ages of darkness and storm, Is the heart that sorrows have frown'd on in vain, Whose spirit outlives them, unfading and warm. Erin, O Erin! thus bright through the tears Of a long night of bondage thy spirit appears. The nations have fallen, and thou still art young, Thy sun is but rising, when others are set: And though slavery's cloud o'er thy morning hath hung, The full noon of freedom shall beam round thee yet. Erin, O Erin! though long in the shade, Thy star will shine out when the proudest shall fade. Unchill'd by the rain, and unwaked by the wind, The lily lies sleeping through winter's cold hour, Till Spring's light touch her fetters unbind, And daylight and liberty bless the young flower. Thus Erin, O Erin! @3thy@1 winter is past, And the hope that lived through it shall blossom at last. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SNOW-STORM by RALPH WALDO EMERSON MOTHER TO SON by IRENE RUTHERFORD MCLEOD FEATHERS ON THE GRASS by LAURA FRANCES ALEXANDER OF GENERAL GOURAUD by ROBERTA BALFOUR FRAGMENT (2) by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD MR. MERRY'S LAMENT FOR LONG TOM by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD |