 | Ballads of Irish chivalry |  |
244
THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY.
I
I sat within the valley green,I sat me with my true love,
My sad heart strove the two between,
The old love and the new love,—
The old for her, the new that made
Me think on Ireland dearly,
While soft the wind blew down the glade
And shook the golden barley.
245
II
'Twas hard the woeful words to frameTo break the ties that bound us,—
'Twas harder still to bear the shame
Of foreign chains around us;
And so I said, “The mountain glen
I'll seek next morning early,
And join the brave United men!”
While soft winds shook the barley.
III
While sad I kissed away her tears,My fond arms round her flinging,
The foeman's shot burst on our ears,
From out the wildwood ringing,—
The bullet pierced my true love's side,
In life's young spring so early,
And on my breast in blood she died
While soft winds shook the barley!
IV
I bore her to the wildwood screen,And many a summer blossom
I placed with branches thick and green
Above her gore-stain'd bosom:—
I wept and kissed her pale, pale cheek,
Then rushed o'er vale and far lea,
My vengeance on the foe to wreak,
While soft winds shook the barley!
V
And blood for blood without remorseI've ta'en at Oulart Hollow, —
I've placed my true-love's clay-cold corse
Where I full soon will follow;
246
Noon, night, and morning early,
With breaking heart whene'er I hear
The wind that shakes the barley!
| Ballads of Irish chivalry | |