 | The Irish Poems of Alfred Perceval Graves |  |
1
SONGS OF SUMMER AND WINTER
THE FIRST WINTER SONG
Take my tidings!
Stags contend;
Snows descend—
Summer's end!
Stags contend;
Snows descend—
Summer's end!
A chill wind raging;
The sun low keeping,
Swift to set
O'er seas high sweeping.
The sun low keeping,
Swift to set
O'er seas high sweeping.
Dull red the fern;
Shapes are shadows;
Wild geese mourn
O'er misty meadows.
Shapes are shadows;
Wild geese mourn
O'er misty meadows.
Keen cold limes each weaker wing.
Icy times—
Such I sing!
Take my tidings!
Icy times—
Such I sing!
Take my tidings!
2
THE FIRST SUMMER SONG
Beltane! the Season's star!
Enchanting then the colours are;
Blackbirds flute a full lay,
Be there but a dart of day.
Enchanting then the colours are;
Blackbirds flute a full lay,
Be there but a dart of day.
The loud cuckoo, of dusky hue,
Cries, “Hail! splendid hour!”
He's gone, the churl of surly brow,
Every bough is now a bower!
Cries, “Hail! splendid hour!”
He's gone, the churl of surly brow,
Every bough is now a bower!
Summer calls; the river falls;
The swift wild steed to the pool is gone;
The heath outspreads her tresses bright;
Soft and white is the cannavaun.
The swift wild steed to the pool is gone;
The heath outspreads her tresses bright;
Soft and white is the cannavaun.
Tremors take the heart of the deer;
Smooth and clear runs the tide;
Season when the ocean sleeps,
And blossom creeps the earth to hide.
Smooth and clear runs the tide;
Season when the ocean sleeps,
And blossom creeps the earth to hide.
Bees with puny strength upbear
Through the air their burden sweet;
Cows, mire-footed, mount the hill,
Ants their fill of honey eat.
Through the air their burden sweet;
Cows, mire-footed, mount the hill,
Ants their fill of honey eat.
Forest harps music sound;
The sail gathers! Peace profound!
Hue on hue the mountain takes,
In misty blue melt the lakes.
The sail gathers! Peace profound!
Hue on hue the mountain takes,
In misty blue melt the lakes.
3
A strenuous bard, the corncrake calls;
The virgin falls fill their urns,
To the panting pool descanting
Till the rushes' talk returns.
The virgin falls fill their urns,
To the panting pool descanting
Till the rushes' talk returns.
Light aloft dart the swallows!
Melody follows the green hill's round;
The soft rich mast is burgeoning fast,
The frogs in chorus croak around.
Melody follows the green hill's round;
The soft rich mast is burgeoning fast,
The frogs in chorus croak around.
Dark is the peat as the raven's coat,
The cuckoo's note bids welcome wide—
The speckled trout from the stream leaps out;
Long and strong is the warrior's stride.
The cuckoo's note bids welcome wide—
The speckled trout from the stream leaps out;
Long and strong is the warrior's stride.
Man flourishes; in fair young pride
At his side the maiden buds—
Perfect each plain, majestic, mute—
From crown to root perfect each wood.
At his side the maiden buds—
Perfect each plain, majestic, mute—
From crown to root perfect each wood.
The sunny splendour how delightful!
Winter frightful far is fled.
With flower each orchard now is white full,
Such joyous peace has summer shed!
Winter frightful far is fled.
With flower each orchard now is white full,
Such joyous peace has summer shed!
Amid the meadows, among bright petals,
Softly settles a flight of stares;
Richly around the green field rustles,
Through and through it a white stream fares.
Softly settles a flight of stares;
Richly around the green field rustles,
Through and through it a white stream fares.
4
Wild longing is on you for racing horses,
The level courses the ranked lines hold,
And such bright shafts through the blue air shiver
Each flag in the river is flashing gold.
The level courses the ranked lines hold,
And such bright shafts through the blue air shiver
Each flag in the river is flashing gold.
A little importunate one upspringing
Shrills and shrills his tremulous lay!
The lark it is, clear tidings singing
Of May of the colours, enchanting May!
Shrills and shrills his tremulous lay!
The lark it is, clear tidings singing
Of May of the colours, enchanting May!
THE SECOND WINTER SONG
Cold, cold until Doom!
The storm goes gathering gloom;
Each flashing furrow a stream;
A full lake every ford in the coom.
The storm goes gathering gloom;
Each flashing furrow a stream;
A full lake every ford in the coom.
Sea large are the scowling lakes,
Thin sleet-spears swell to an host,
Light rains clash as shields on the coast;
Like a white wether's fleece fall the flakes.
Thin sleet-spears swell to an host,
Light rains clash as shields on the coast;
Like a white wether's fleece fall the flakes.
The roadside pools are as ponds,
Each moor like a forest uplifts,
No shelter the bird-flock finds,
Breech high the stark snow drifts.
Each moor like a forest uplifts,
No shelter the bird-flock finds,
Breech high the stark snow drifts.
Swift frost has the ways in his hold,
Keen the strife around Colt's standing stone,
And the tempest so stretches her fold
That none can cry aught but “cold”!
Keen the strife around Colt's standing stone,
And the tempest so stretches her fold
That none can cry aught but “cold”!
5
THE SECOND SUMMER SONG
Summer's here! free, balm-blowing;
Down the brown wood verdure's glowing;
Slim, nimble deer are leaping;
Smooth the path of seals is showing.
Down the brown wood verdure's glowing;
Slim, nimble deer are leaping;
Smooth the path of seals is showing.
Cuckoos, echoing to each other,
Soothe to blest, restful slumber;
Gentle birds glance on the hill-side,
And swift grey stags in number.
Soothe to blest, restful slumber;
Gentle birds glance on the hill-side,
And swift grey stags in number.
Restless run the deer—behind them
Pours the curled pack, tuneful baying;
From end to end laughs the strand,
Where the excited sea is spraying.
Pours the curled pack, tuneful baying;
From end to end laughs the strand,
Where the excited sea is spraying.
By the playful breezes stirred
Drum Dail's oak tops dimly welter;
While the noble, hornless herd
Seek in Cuan wood a shelter.
Drum Dail's oak tops dimly welter;
While the noble, hornless herd
Seek in Cuan wood a shelter.
Every herb begins to sprout;
The oakwood heights with green abound;
Summer's in, winter's out!
Twisted hollies wound the hound.
The oakwood heights with green abound;
Summer's in, winter's out!
Twisted hollies wound the hound.
6
Loud the blackbird pipes his lay,
The live wood's heir from May to May;
The excited sea is lulled to sleep,
In air the speckled salmon leap.
The live wood's heir from May to May;
The excited sea is lulled to sleep,
In air the speckled salmon leap.
The sun is laughing over the land,
To the brood of cares the back of my hand!
Hounds bark, tryst the deer,
Ravens flourish, summer's here!
To the brood of cares the back of my hand!
Hounds bark, tryst the deer,
Ravens flourish, summer's here!
| The Irish Poems of Alfred Perceval Graves | |