IRISH-AMERICAN-L Archives

From: "Jean R." <>
Subject: "Old Ireland" -- Walt WHITMAN (1819-1892)
Date: Sun, 14 May 2006 20:06:51 -0700

Walt WHITMAN (1819-1892), American poet and journalist, grew up in Brooklyn, NY and worked as a printer before gaining recognition as a writer. His most famous collection of poems, "Leaves of Grass" was published for the first time in 1855, and has been constantly revised and reprinted.

OLD IRELAND

Far hence amid an isle of wondrous beauty,
Crouching over a grave an ancient sorrowful mother,
Once a queen, now lean and tatter'd seated on the ground,
Her old white hair drooping dishevel'd round her shoulders,
At her feet fallen an unused royal harp.
Long silent, she too long silent, mourning her shrouded hope and heir,
Of all the earth her heart most full of sorrow because most full of love.
Yet a word ancient mother,
You need crouch there no longer on the cold ground with forehead
between your knees,
O you need not sit there veil'd in your old white hair so dishevel'd,
For know you the one you mourn is not in that grave,
It was an illusion, the son you love was not really dead,
The Lord is not dead, he is risen again young and strong in another country,
Even while you wept there by your fallen harp by the grave,
The winds favor'd and the sea sail'd it,
And now with rosy and new blood,
Moves to-day in a new country.

This thread:

• "Old Ireland" -- Walt WHITMAN (1819-1892) by "Jean R." <>