Poetry Archives

How oft has the Banshee cried!
  How oft has death untied
  Bright links that Glory wove,
  Sweet bonds entwined by Love!
Peace to each manly soul that sleepeth;
Rest to each faithful eye that weepeth;
  Long may the fair and brave
  Sigh o’er the hero’s grave!

  We’re fallen on evil days!
  Star after star decays,
  Every bright name that shed
  Light o’er the land is fled.
Dark falls the tear of him that mourneth
Lost joy, or hope that ne’er returneth:
  But brightly flows the tear
  Wept o’er a hero’s bier.

  Quenched are our beacon lights—
  Thou, of the Hundred Fights!
  Thou, on whose burning tongue
  Truth, peace and freedom hung!
Both mute—but long as valor shineth,
Or mercy’s soul at war repineth,
  So long shall Erin’s pride
  Tell how they lived and died.