Songs and Poems by George Sigerson :: :: University of Virginia Library

When sing the Birds of Morning,
Welcome is the warning!
Dawn, the Darkness scorning,
Rose-crown'd does appear,
Life is all before us,
Blue the skies are o'er us,
In our hearts a chorus
Of joy-bells we hear!
Blow, huntsman, we will follow,
Stag, now flee the fallow,
Cry, Echo, holloa, holloa,
Repeat the day's delight!
Thereafter cometh quiet,
Laughter dies and riot,
Around us reigns in silence
The great Peace of Night!

One of the most exquisite, wildest, and most popular of Irish airs bears the name of Sean O'Duibhir a' Ghleanna (pronounced Shaun O'Deer a Glanna) after Colonel Sean O'Dwyer (as the name is now written,) of the Glen of Aherlo, a chivalrous champion in the Jacobite Wars. G.S.

II.

How splendid was the Vision,
Flame-like, fair, elysian,
When, for War's decision,
Our bright weapons flash!
Hope showed Erinn's glory,
Fame our place in story;
Gay to combat gory
True comrades we dash!
Crash, cannon, we go onward,
Flag, now flutter sunward,
Let Victory lead vanward,
For Honour holds the field!—
Alas, the King who led us,
Failed, forsook, and fled us,—
We strove with Patrick Sarsfield,
Men who could not yield!

III.

Now fall on Lim'rick towers
Evening's stormy showers,
Murky midnight lowers
Round each breaking heart.
Vain was all the daring,
Exiles, far we're faring,
From you—from you, Erinn!
Farewell, we do part.

Break, billow, we are cleaving,
Crag, behold us leaving!
If we return not, grieving
Till death, beyond the foam.
“Farewell!”—we hear you calling,
Farewell!—the clouds are falling,
Ah, Shaun O'Deer a Glanna!
You now have no Home.

IV.

One bird sings at even
To the soul bereaven,
Still one star in heaven
Will shine through the night.
Life is all behind us,
Dark the skies that bind us,
Bitter tears do blind us—
But, we stand upright!
Fly, fortune, who will follow?
Brag, Foe, your Treaty hollow,
All story still shall hallow
The men to Honour true.
And this be our upbearing,—
For you,—for you!—Erinn!
To strike, with Patrick Sarsfield,
One more blow for you.