Parnell

By Lionel Johnson (1867–1902)

Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish statesman and leader of the Home Rule party which, under his guidance, accomplished more than ever before or since. He died on Oct. 6, 1891.

THE WAIL of Irish winds,

The cry of Irish seas;

Eternal sorrow finds

Eternal voice in these.

I cannot praise our dead

Whom Ireland weeps so well;

Her morning light that fled

Her morning star that fell.

She of the mournful eyes

Waits, and no dark clouds break;

Waits, and her strong son lies

Dead, for her holy sake.

Her heart is sorrow’s home;

And hath been from of old;

An host of griefs hath come

To make that heart their fold.

Ah, the sad autumn day

When the last sad troop came

Swift down the ancient way,

Keening a chieftain’s name!

Gray hope was there, and dread,

Anger and love in tears;

They mourned the dear and dead,

Dirge of the ruined years.

Home to her heart she drew

The mourning company;

Old sorrows met the new

In sad fraternity.

A mother, and forget?

Nay! all her children’s fate

Ireland remembers yet,

With love insatiate.

She hears the heavy bells

Hears, and with passionate breath

Eternally she tells

A rosary of death.

Faithful and true is she,

The mother of us all;

Faithful and true may we

Fail her not though we fall.

Her son, our brother, lies

Dead for her holy sake;

But from the dead arise

Voices that bid us wake.

Not his to hail the dawn;

His but the herald’s part;

Be ours to see withdrawn

Night from our mother’s heart.

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