Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE THREE WOES, by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE THREE WOES, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: That angel whose charge is eire sang thus, o'er the dark isle winging
Last Line: Let god do that which he wills. Let his servants endure and adore!
Subject(s): Ireland; Irish


THAT angel whose charge is Eire sang thus, o'er the dark isle winging;
By a virgin his song was heard at a tempest's ruinous close:
"Three golden ages God gave while your tender green blade
was springing;
Faith's earliest harvest is reaped. To-day God sends you
three Woes.

"For ages three without laws ye shall flee as beasts in the forest;
For an age and a half-age faith shall bring not peace, but a sword;
Then laws shall rend you, like eagles sharp-fanged, of your
scourges the sorest:
When these three woes are past, look up, for your hope is restored.

"The times of your woe shall be twice the time of your foregone glory;
But fourfold at last shall lie the grain on your granary floor."
The seas in vapor shall fleet, and in ashes the mountains hoary:
Let God do that which he wills. Let his servants endure and adore!





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