At the grey dawn, amongst the felling leaves,
A little bird outside my window swung,
High on a topmost branch he trilled his song,
And “Ireland! Ireland! Ireland!” ever sung.
Take me, I cried, back to my island home;
Sweet bird, my soul shall ride between thy wings;
For my lone spirit wide his pinions spread,
And home and home and home he ever sings.
We lingered over Ulster stern and wild.
I called: “Arise! doth none remember me?”
One turnèd in the darkness murmuring,
“How loud upon the breakers sobs the sea!”
We rested over Connaught — whispering said:
“Awake, awake, and welcome! I am here.”
One woke and shivered at the morning grey;
“The trees, I never heard them sigh so drear.”
We flew low over Munster. Long I wept:
“You used to love me, love me once again!”
They spoke from out the shadows wondering;
“You’ d think of tears, so bitter falls the rain.”
Long over Leinster lingered we. “Good-bye!
My best beloved, good-bye for evermore.”
Sleepless they tossed and whispered to the dawn;
“So sad a wind was never heard before.”
Was it a dream I dreamt? For yet there swings
In the grey morn a bird upon the bough,
And “Ireland! Ireland! Ireland!” ever sings.
Oh! fair the breaking day in Ireland now.