Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ANCIENT RACE, by MICHAEL TORMEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ANCIENT RACE, by                    
First Line: What shall become of the ancient race
Last Line: They shall not go, the ancient race!'
Subject(s): Nationalism - Ireland


WHAT shall become of the ancient race,
The noble Celtic island race?
Like cloud on cloud o'er the azure sky,
When winter storms are loud and high,
Their dark ships shadow the ocean's face --
What shall become of the Celtic race?

What shall befall the ancient race --
The poor, unfriended, faithful race?
Where ploughman's song made the hamlet ring,
The hawk and the owlet flap their wing;
The village homes, oh, who can trace --
God of our persecuted race!

What shall befall the ancient race?
Is treason's stigma on their face?
Be they cowards or traitors? Go --
Ask the shade of England's foe;
See the gems her crown that grace;
They tell a tale of the ancient race.

They tell a tale of the ancient race --
Of matchless deeds in danger's face;
They speak of Britain's glory fed
With blood of Celts, right bravely shed;
Of India's spoil and Frank's disgrace --
Such tale they tell of the ancient race.

What shall befall the ancient race?
Shall all forsake their dear birth-place,
Without one struggle strong to keep
The old soil where their fathers sleep?
The dearest land on earth's wide space --
Why leave it so, oh, ancient race?

What shall befall the ancient race?
Light up one hope for the ancient race;
O, priest of God -- Soggarth aroon!
Lead but the way, we'll go full soon;
Is there a danger we will not face,
To keep old homes for the Irish race?

They shall not go, the ancient race --
They must not go, the ancient race!
Come, gallant Celts, and take your stand --
And form a league to save the land;
The land of faith, the land of grace,
The land of Erin's ancient race!

They must not go, the ancient race!
They shall not go, the ancient race!
The cry swells loud from shore to shore,
From emerald vale to mountain hoar,
From altar high to market-place --
'They shall not go, the ancient race!'





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