Poems of James Clarence Mangan (Many hitherto uncollected): Centenary edition: Edited, with preface and notes by D. J. O'Donoghue: Introduction by John Mitchel |
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THE TIME ERE THE ROSES WERE BLOWING. |
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 | Poems of James Clarence Mangan |  |
THE TIME ERE THE ROSES WERE BLOWING.
I
Brilliantly sparkle, Meseehi, thy flowingNumbers, like streams amid lilies upgrowing,
Yet, wouldst thou mingle the sad and sublime,
Sing, too, the Time,
Sing the young Time ere the Roses were blowing!
II
Then was the Season when Hope was yet glowing,Then the blithe year of the Spring and the Sowing;
Then the Soul dwelt in her own fairy clime;
Then was the Time,
Then the gay Time ere the Roses were blowing!
III
Soon, ah! too soon, came the Summer, bestowingGlory and Light, but a Light ever showing
In the chill nearness the Autumn's grey rime.
Gone was the Time,
Gone the fresh Time ere the Roses were blowing!
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IV
Life is at best but a Coming and Going,Now flitting past us on swift, now on slow wing;
Here fair with Goodness, there gloomy with Crime.
O, for the Time,
O, for the Time ere the Roses were blowing!
V
Coldly, O coldly, goes Truth overthrowingFancy's bright palaces, coldly goes mowing
Down the sweet blossoms of Boyhood's young prime.
Give us the Time,
Give us the Time ere the Roses were blowing!
VI
I am Zerba'yeh, the Least of the Knowing;Thou art Meseehi, the Golden and Glowing!
O, when again thou wouldst dazzle in rhyme
Sing of the Time,
Sing of the Time ere the Roses were blowing!
| Poems of James Clarence Mangan | |