Ballads of Irish chivalry :: :: University of Virginia Library

Ballads of Irish chivalry

By Robert Dwyer Joyce: Edited, with Annotations, by his brother P. W. Joyce

Joyce, Robert Dwyer (1836-1883)

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I WISH I SAT BY GRENA'S SIDE.

[_]

Air: “I wish I had the yellow Cow.”

I

I wish I sat by Grena's side,
With the friends of boyhood-tide,
With the maids the brilliant-eyed,
Playful wild and airy,

163

Who taught me that love could go
From maid to maiden to and fro,
But turning with fonder glow
Back to you, my Mary.

II

I wish I sat by Grena's stream,
In the ruddy sunset beam,
Where the wavelets leap and gleam
On through dell and wildwood;
Ne'er half so fleet and free
As the fairy feet of glee
That danced 'neath the summer tree
In our dreamy childhood.

III

I wish I sat by Grena's wave,
Hopes fulfilled that boyhood gave,
Where the woods clothe gorge and cave,
Storied hill and plain, love;
You placed beside me there,
Laughing, loving, kind and fair,
Long parted far, but ne'er,
Ne'er to part again, love!