Ballads of Irish chivalry By Robert Dwyer Joyce: Edited, with Annotations, by his brother P. W. Joyce |
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GRA GAL MACHREE |
 | Ballads of Irish chivalry |  |
GRA GAL MACHREE
I
When morning discloses its light on the roses,Upon them reposes the sweet honey dew;
Like those rosebuds the fairest, thy lips, O, my dearest,
Have honey the rarest to sweeten them too:
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Than April skies' light, or than gems of the sea;
Thy neck's like th' illuming bright lily assuming
Its first tender blooming, sweet Gra Gal Machree.
II
I went to the greenwood, where streamlets serene wouldMake music and sheen would enliven me more:
Sweet visions they wrought me, sweet memories they brought me,
Of thee who first taught me love's passion and lore.
The birds round me winging, their carols were singing,
Their voices outringing with rapture and glee;
My heart then enchanted, by memory haunted,
For thy loved words panted, sweet Gra Gal Machree.
III
O Love, I am thinking of thee from the blinkingOf morn till the sinking of day in the west;
And thus each fair creature, each bright blooming feature
And aspect of nature brings joy to my breast;
At night through the airy sweet dreamland of fairy,
My soul still unweary is wandering to thee;
And each dream or reflection is one recollection
Of thy fond affection, sweet Gra Gal Machree.
| Ballads of Irish chivalry | |