 | The wind in the trees |  |
73
THE RED DEER
(AT KILLARNEY)
There are lords of the forest,
And lords of the glen,
And lords of the waters,
And lords over men.
The birds of the blue air,
The fish of the mere,
All, all have their masters
Except the red deer.
And lords of the glen,
And lords of the waters,
And lords over men.
The birds of the blue air,
The fish of the mere,
All, all have their masters
Except the red deer.
From the heights of the mountain
Where no man shall tread,
Where in furze and in bracken
The deer hath his bed,
He will swim the fair waters,
From heaven to heaven,
He is this man's at morning,
And that man's at even.
Where no man shall tread,
Where in furze and in bracken
The deer hath his bed,
74
From heaven to heaven,
He is this man's at morning,
And that man's at even.
No! free as the west wind
That comes from the ocean
And tosses the bright woods
And waves to commotion,—
No! free as the stars are,
The sun's not more free:
He is free as the waters
Escaped to the sea.
That comes from the ocean
And tosses the bright woods
And waves to commotion,—
No! free as the stars are,
The sun's not more free:
He is free as the waters
Escaped to the sea.
Ah, ye who would claim him,
Be silent at last,
Ye are gone like the bright leaves
Blown high on the blast.
With your castles and abbeys,
Through time he remaineth
The red deer of freedom
Whom no man enchaineth.
Be silent at last,
Ye are gone like the bright leaves
Blown high on the blast.
75
Through time he remaineth
The red deer of freedom
Whom no man enchaineth.
| The wind in the trees | |