Bobbie Burns and Bobbie Browning, They’re the boys I’d like to see. Though I’m not the boy for Bobbie, Bobbie is the boy for me! Bobbie Browning was the good boy; Turned the language inside out, Wrote his plays and had his days, Died–and held his peace, no doubt. Poor North Bobbie was the bad […]

Here’s a health to thee, Roberts, And here’s a health to me; And here’s to all the pretty girls From Denver to the sea! Here’s to mine and here’s to thine! Now’s the time to clink it! Here’s a flagon of old wine, And here are we to drink it. Wine that maketh glad the […]

A stone jug and a pewter mug, And a table set for three! A jug and a mug at every place, And a biscuit or two with Brie! Three stone jugs of Cruiskeen Lawn, And a cheese like crusted foam! The Kavanagh receives to-night! McMurrough is at home! We three and the barley-bree! And a […]

Shipmate, leave the ghostly shadows, Where thy boon companions throng! We will put to sea together Through the twilight with a song. Leering closer, rank and girding, In this Black Port where we bide, Reel a thousand flaring faces; But escape is on the tide. Let the tap-rooms of the city Reek till the red […]

Bowmen, shout for Gamelbar! Winds, unthrottle the wolves of war! Heave a breath And dare a death For the doom of Gamelbar! Wealth for Gamel, Wine for Gamel, Crimson wine for Gamelbar! CHORUS:–Oh, sleep for a knave, With his sins in the sod! And death for the brave, With his glory up to God! And […]

Oh, not for us the easy mirth Of men that never roam! The crackling of the narrow hearth, The cabined joys of home! Keep your tame, regulated glee, O pale protected State! Our dwelling-place is on the sea, Our joy the joy of Fate! No long caresses give us ease, No lazy languors warm, We […]

Oh, let my lord laugh in his halls When he the tale shall tell! But woe to Jarlwell and its walls When I shall laugh as well! And he that laughs the last, lads, Laughs well, laughs well! He’s lord of many a burg and farm And mickle thralls and gold, And I am but […]

“Daughter, daughter, marry no man, Though a king’s son come to woo, If he be not more than blessing or ban To the secret soul of you.” “‘Tis the King’s son, indeed, I ween, And he left me even but now, And he shall make me a dazzling queen, With a gold crown on my […]

Who’ll have the crumpled pieces of a heart? Let him take mine! Who’ll give his whole of passion for a part, And call’t divine? Who’ll have the soiled remainder of desire? Who’ll warm his fingers at a burnt-out fire? Who’ll drink the lees of love, and cast i’ the mire The nobler wine? Let him […]

We are as mendicants who wait Along the roadside in the sun. Tatters of yesterday and shreds Of morrow clothe us every one. And some are dotards, who believe And glory in the days of old; While some are dreamers, harping still Upon an unknown age of gold. Hopeless or witless! Not one heeds, As […]

Weary, oh, so weary With it all! Sunny days or dreary– How they pall! Why should we be heroes, Launa Dee, Striving to no winning? Let the world be Zero’s! As in the beginning Let it be! What good comes of toiling, When all’s done? Frail green sprays for spoiling Of the sun; Laurel leaf […]

Now gird thee well for courage, My knight of twenty year, Against the marching morrows That fill the world with fear! The flowers fade before them; The summer leaves the hill; Their trumpets range the morning, And those who hear grow still. Like pillagers of harvest, Their fame is far abroad, As gray remorseless troopers […]

Once in the Workshop, ages ago, The clay was wet and the fire was low. And He who was bent on fashioning man Moulded a shape from a clod, And put the loyal heart therein; While another stood watching by. “What’s that?” said Beelzebub. “A lover,” said God. And Beelzebub frowned, for he knew that […]

Oh, but life went gayly, gayly, In the house of Idiedaily! There were always throats to sing Down the river-banks with spring, When the stir of heart’s desire Set the sapling’s heart on fire. Bobolincolns in the meadows, Leisure in the purple shadows, Till the poppies without number Bowed their heads in crimson slumber, And […]

Two shapes of august bearing, seraph tall, Of indolent imperturbable regard, Stood in the Tavern door to drink. As the first Lifted his glass to let the warm light melt In the slow bubbles of the wine, a sunbeam, Red and broad as smouldering autumn, smote Down through its mystery; and a single fleck, The […]

Comrades, pour the wine to-night For the parting is with dawn! Oh, the clink of cups together, With the daylight coming on! Greet the morn With a double horn, When strong men drink together! Comrades, gird your swords to-night, For the battle is with dawn! Oh, the clash of shields together, With the triumph coming […]