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

Calmly Loch Érne sleeps, while in her lucid deeps
Lurking in crystal keeps, fairy hosts guard her.
Great is her beauty's dower, green is her woodland bower,
O'er her the island Tower looks, a tall warder;

Ha! did you mark that glance? Helmet and shield and lance
Flashing through glade advance, as to the battle.
Now from the leafy land forth rides the armed band,
Hark! on the stony strand how the hoofs rattle!

Onward they prance and dash, into Loch Erne they splash,
See, in its foam and flash welcome is found them!
Halt! they have stayed their march, horses no more need parch,
Riders with keen eyes search all the scene round them.

Silent they pause to hear, listening they bend the ear,
What is't they hate or fear?—Outbursts their “Fáilte.”
Heard you the horn's wild note? Back o'er the waters float
“Fáilte” from every throat, “fáilte, kind fáilte!”

Swift from the farther side, swift o'er the shining tide,
Swift the stout rowers glide straining the gunnel,
Who stands amid them all, stately and young and tall?
“Welcome to Dún-na-Gall, welcome, O'Donnell!”

Loud bursts the cry again, tears fall from warrior men;
“Come from the cheat and chain, come to Tir-Conaill,
Come from the foeman's hand, come to thy people's band,
Chief of our mountain land, welcome, O'Donnell!”

Hark, as the boats come near, outrings the royal cheer
Lakeward each cavalier quick his steed urges,
Out of the waves they bear bark and its rowers there,
Chieftain so young and fair, out of the surges.

Then at the shout they raise, up bursts the bonfire's blaze
From peak to peak, its rays flame o'er Tir-Conaill,
From Erne to the norward foam, Chief from the dungeon come,
Wild is your welcome home, “Fáilte, O'Donnell!”