Classic and Contemporary Poetry
O BRAZIL, THE ISLE OF THE BLEST, by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN Poet's Biography First Line: On the ocean that hollows the rocks where ye dwell Last Line: And he died on the waters, away far away. Variant Title(s): Hy-brasail - The Isle Of The Blest Subject(s): Hy-brasail (island), Ireland | ||||||||
On the ocean that hollows the rocks where ye dwell, A shadowy land has appeared, as they tell; Men thought it a region of sunshine and rest, And they called it Hy-Brasail, the isle of the blest. From year unto year on the ocean's blue rim, The beautiful spectre showed lovely and dim: The golden clouds curtained the deep where it lay, And it looked like an Eden, away, far away! A peasant, who heard of the wonderful tale, In the breeze of the Orient loosened his sail; From Ara, the holy, he turned to the West, For though Ara was holy, Hy-Brasail was blest. He heard not the voices that called from the shore-- He heard not the rising wind's menacing roar; Home, kindred, and safety, he left on that day, And he sped to Hy-Brasail, away, far away. Morn rose on the deep, and that shadowy isle, O'er the faint rim of distance, reflected its smile; Noon burned on the wave, and that shadowy shore Seemed lovelily distant, and faint as before; Lone evening came down on the wan'derer's track, And to Ara again he looked timidly back: O! far on the verge of the ocean it lay, Yet the isle of the blest was away, far away! Rash dreamer, return! O ye winds of the main, Bear him back to his own peaceful Ara again. Rash fool! for a vision of fanciful bliss To barter thy calm life of labour and peace. The warning of reason was spoken in vain, He never revisited Ara again! Night fell on the deep, amidst tempest and spray, And he died on the waters, away far away. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EILEEN AROON by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN ADARE by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN GILLE MACHREE (BRIGHTENER OF MY HEART) by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN LINES TO A SEAGULL by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN MITCHELSTOWN CAVERNS by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN NOCTURNE by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN ORANGE AND GREEN by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN SHANID CASTLE by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN THE BRIDAL OF MALAHIDE by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN THE INVASION: SONG. CEAD MILE FAILTE, ELIM! by GERALD JOSEPH GRIFFIN |
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