Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DAWNING OF THE DAY, by CARROLL RYAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DAWNING OF THE DAY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Give me the harp, old minstrel, you have sung of / vanished things
Last Line: For ireland at the dawning of the day!
Alternate Author Name(s): Ryan, William Thomas Carroll
Subject(s): Fables; Ireland; Allegories; Irish


Give me the harp, Old Minstrel, you have sung of vanished things;
You have told the ancient story, not of what the future brings.
We have had our fill of fable; let another strike the strings
For Ireland at the Dawning of the Day!

This harp is mine, Old Minstrel, for the Chieftains of Odrone
Consigned it to my fathers—it belongs to us alone.
Not silent shall I have it while we stand around the throne,
For Ireland at the Dawning of the Day!

The kings and chieftains of the past were noble in their time,
Their wisdom and their valor are a theme for song sublime,
When honor was a heritage and love was not a crime,
In Ireland at the Dawning of the Day!

But I charge ye, Men of Ireland! be the heroes of to-day!
Stand forth in fearless manhood making hirelings clear the way—
A glorious Faugh at Ballagh! which to hear is to obey,
For Ireland at the Dawning of the Day!

Be patient, calm and prudent; let your little quarrels die;
Be firm of foot and strong of arm, with steady gazing eye:
The ground ye tread is holy ground, and God is still on high,
For Ireland at the Dawning of the Day!

The victory belongs to those who to themselves are true—
The tree of life is standing, ripely laden, full in view.
If ye would have the fruitage be prepared to dare and do
For Ireland at the Dawning of the Day!

I behold a nation rising from the ashes of the past.
I see a host advancing with its shadow backward cast.
I see a line of heroes where the greatest is the last
In Ireland at the Dawning of the Day!

I behold a people coming from the confines of the earth—
The women with the children who have had a higher birth—
And men who have about them all the sanctities of worth
For Ireland at the Dawning of the Day!

These are the Irish people of a day that's drawing near;
The night of grief is gone at last, the dawn is almost here;
No more they sit in sorrow, Oh! no more they shrink in fear
For Ireland at the Dawning of the Day!

The noises of the night are breaking into joyous song;
The millions are arising who have toiled in sorrow long;
Unconquered thro' the ages, in their virtue great and strong,
For Ireland at the Dawning of the Day!





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