Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IRELAND, by STEPHEN LUCIUS GWYNN


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IRELAND, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ireland, o ireland! Centre of my longings
Last Line: Keep me in remembrance, long leagues apart.
Subject(s): Ireland; Irish


Ireland, O Ireland! centre of my longings,
Country of my fathers, home of my heart!
Overseas you call me; Why an exile from me?
Wherefore sea-severed, long leagues apart?

As the thining salmon, homeless in the sea depths,
Hears the river call him, scents out the land,
Leaps and rejoices in the meeting of the waters,
Breasts weir and torrent, nests in the sand.

Lives there and loves; yet with the year's returning,
Rusting in the river, pines for the sea,
Sweeps back again to the ripple of the tideway,
Roamer of the waters, vagabond and free.

Wanderer am I like the salmon of thy rivers;
London is my ocean, murmurous and deep,
Tossing and vast; yet through the roar of London
Comes to me thy summons, calls me in sleep.

Pearly are the skies in the country of my fathers,
Purple are thy mountains, home of my heart.
Mother of my yearning, love of all my longings,
Keep me in remembrance, long leagues apart.





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