 | The Irish Poems of Alfred Perceval Graves |  |
THE ALARM
Hurry down, hurry down, hurry down ever,
From the wrack-ridden mountain and yellow, rushing river!
Stern horsemen and footmen with spear, axe and quiver,
Oh, hurry down, hurry down, your land to deliver!
Haste, oh, haste! for in cruel might clustering,
Far and near the fierce Nordman is mustering;
Haste, oh, haste! or the daughters ye cherish,
The bride of your bosom shall far more than perish!
From the wrack-ridden mountain and yellow, rushing river!
Stern horsemen and footmen with spear, axe and quiver,
Oh, hurry down, hurry down, your land to deliver!
Haste, oh, haste! for in cruel might clustering,
Far and near the fierce Nordman is mustering;
Haste, oh, haste! or the daughters ye cherish,
The bride of your bosom shall far more than perish!
Lo! how he toils down that narrow pass yonder,
Ensnared by his spoils and oppressed by his plunder!
Flash on him, crash on him, God's fire and thunder!
And scatter and shatter his fell ranks asunder!
Oh, smite the wolf, ere he slinks from the slaughter!
Oh, rend the shark, ere he wins to deep water!
Pursue and hew him to pieces by the haven,
And feast with his red flesh the exulting sea raven!
Ensnared by his spoils and oppressed by his plunder!
Flash on him, crash on him, God's fire and thunder!
And scatter and shatter his fell ranks asunder!
Oh, smite the wolf, ere he slinks from the slaughter!
Oh, rend the shark, ere he wins to deep water!
Pursue and hew him to pieces by the haven,
And feast with his red flesh the exulting sea raven!
| The Irish Poems of Alfred Perceval Graves | |