From the Land of Dreams :: :: University of Virginia Library

Buttercups and daisies in the meadow,
And the children pick them as they pass,
Weaving in the sunshine and the shadow
Garlands for each little lad and lass;
Weave with dreams their buttercups and daisies
As the children did in days of old;
Will the dreams, like sunlight in their faces,
Wither with their flowers, like Fairy Gold?

II

Once, when lonely in life's crowded highway,
Came a maiden sweet, and took my hand,
Led me down Love's green delightful byeway,
Led me wondering back to Fairyland.
Ah! Death's envious eyes that light on lovers
Looked upon her, and her breast grew cold;
Now my heart's delight the green sod covers,
Vanished from my arms like Fairy Gold.

III

Then to Ireland, my long-striving nation,
That poor hope life left me still I gave,
With her dreams I dreamed, her desolation
Found me, called me, desolate by that grave.
Once again she raised her head, contending
For her children's birthright, as of old,
Once again the old fight had the old ending,
All her hopes and dreams were Fairy Gold.

IV

Now my work is done, and I am dying,
Lone, an exile on a foreign shore,
But in dreams roam with my Love that's lying,
Lonely in the Old Land I'll see no more.
Buttercups and daisies in her meadows
When I'm gone will bloom; new hopes for old
Comfort her with sunshine after shadows,
Fade no more away like Fairy Gold!