Classic and Contemporary Poetry
CYMRIC RULE AND CYMRIC RULERS, by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS Poet's Biography First Line: Once there was a cymric nation Last Line: Pass along the word! Subject(s): Wales; Welshmen; Welshwomen | ||||||||
I. ONCE there was a Cymric nation: Few its men, but high its station -- Freedom is the soul's creation, Not the work of hands. Coward hearts are self-subduing; Fetters last by slaves' renewing -- Edward's castles are in ruin, Still his empire stands. Still the Saxon's malice Blights our beauteous valleys; Ours the toil, but his the spoil, and his the laws we writhe in; Worked like beasts, that Saxon priests may riot in our tithing; Saxon speech and Saxon teachers Crush our Cymric tongue! Tolls our traffic binding, Rents our vitals grinding -- Bleating sheep, we cower and weep, when, by one bold endeavour, We could drive from out our hive the Saxon drones for ever. "CYMRIC RULE AND CYMRIC RULERS" -- Pass along the word! II. We should blush at Arthur's glory -- Never sing the deeds of Rory -- Caratach's renowned story Deepens our disgrace. By the bloody day of Banchor! By a thousand years of rancour! By the wrongs that in us canker! Up! ye Cymric race -- Think of Old Llewellyn, -- Owen's trumpets swelling: Then send out a thunder shout, and every true man summon, Till the ground shall echo round from Severn to Plinlimmon, "Saxon foes, and Cymric brothers, "Arthur's come again?" Not his bone and sinew, But his soul within you, Prompt and true to plan and do, and firm as Monmouth iron For our eause, though crafty laws and charging troops environ -- "CYMRIC RULE AND CYMRIC RULERS' -- Pass along the word! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ANTICHRIST, OR THE REUNION OF CHRISTENDOM; AN ODE by GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON WALES VISITATION by ALLEN GINSBERG WELSH INCIDENT by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES THE BARD; A PINDARIC ODE by THOMAS GRAY THE TRIUMPHS OF OWEN: A FRAGMENT by THOMAS GRAY WELSH LANDSCAPE by RONALD STUART THOMAS CLARE'S DRAGOONS by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS FONTENOY by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS LAMENT FOR THE DEATH OF EOGHAN RUADH (OWEN ROE) O'NEIL by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS |
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