Irish Songs and Poems By William Allingham: Second Edition: With Nine Airs for Voice and Pianoforte, and a Permanent Photograph of the Waterfall of Asaroe |
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 | Irish Songs and Poems |  |
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IV.
Another night, another year,
(We reckon Time in mortal sphere)
The Fairies danced on Fairy Hill,
Careless lovers, merry still,
Never half a day forlorn,
Tho' at times they wail and mourn.
And he, the Boy, for all their bode,
Lived, not died; the sea-wind flow'd
Into his veins; a Poet Boy,
Who loved his world and sung for joy,
In glens and woodlands wandering lone,
Where at times from twig and stone
The Fairies peep'd at him, and oft
Elfin music trembled soft,
Airy whispers, whereunto
Danced his fancies, verses flew
Rhyming to the music's chime,
Whilst a human heart kept time
With its own pathetic measure
In the midst of all the pleasure.
How his songs came, none could tell;
Simple people loved them well.
(We reckon Time in mortal sphere)
The Fairies danced on Fairy Hill,
Careless lovers, merry still,
Never half a day forlorn,
Tho' at times they wail and mourn.
And he, the Boy, for all their bode,
Lived, not died; the sea-wind flow'd
Into his veins; a Poet Boy,
Who loved his world and sung for joy,
In glens and woodlands wandering lone,
Where at times from twig and stone
The Fairies peep'd at him, and oft
Elfin music trembled soft,
Airy whispers, whereunto
Danced his fancies, verses flew
Rhyming to the music's chime,
Whilst a human heart kept time
With its own pathetic measure
In the midst of all the pleasure.
How his songs came, none could tell;
Simple people loved them well.
But on a blue midsummer day,
Suddenly, a peeping Fay
Saw within the Poet's eyes
Something new! What wondrous prize,
What rich marvel hath he found
In the heavens or underground?
Yea, Fay! in his breast
A secret lies worth all the rest;
Nor have your people taught him this,
One day he learnt it in a kiss.
Greet her, Fairies, for your part!
The Girl is worth a Poet's heart,
She is gracious, she is true,
She hath eyes of deeper blue
Than hyacinths in woodland shade,
She's a mild, a mirthful maid.
The Wedding-Day is coming soon,
And O, that night, the festival
For Fairy People one and all
On Fairy Hill below the Moon,
Between the Sea and Waterfall!
Suddenly, a peeping Fay
Saw within the Poet's eyes
Something new! What wondrous prize,
What rich marvel hath he found
In the heavens or underground?
Yea, Fay! in his breast
A secret lies worth all the rest;
Nor have your people taught him this,
One day he learnt it in a kiss.
Greet her, Fairies, for your part!
The Girl is worth a Poet's heart,
She is gracious, she is true,
She hath eyes of deeper blue
121
She's a mild, a mirthful maid.
The Wedding-Day is coming soon,
And O, that night, the festival
For Fairy People one and all
On Fairy Hill below the Moon,
Between the Sea and Waterfall!
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