GLASNEVIN

New Zealand Tablet, 8 May 1919, Page 43

GLASNEVIN

(Written after a visit to the. graves of Ireland's dead, and dedicated to Thomas Ashe.) • . Ye who have ears to hear, unbolt thy bars And welcome honest Truth; A ; ; ~ ; ' ; '"•'■'"'.'"■ ~"'": , Ye who have eyes to see the furthest stars, Y^ I .*' Blink not at their radiance ; '■•''""';''' Ye who have minds to think, O recognise On earth a fuller Youth Ye who have souls, to save, -arise, arise, And meet God's rawful glance! ~,;;. Peace after strife, v; ;' ;r V t - ''■•. i '\l In a ' mound of' common clay, The noble offering back of life * Lest Freedom shall " decay. - "■• ••*-'■■■--* :: %?%M3rS-._ Rest after battle, And the wrath of the heart that faints, Peace after conflict, And the homage of saints. O, all ye blind on earth, Are these but graves more ? When shall the attribute of worth Be rightly given and rightly triumphed o'er? Not they who win the.plaudits of the crowd, 'Not they who are acclaimed with voices loud, But they wrapt round with a dishonored shroud Deserve of earth the glory which they wore. Dreamers? Ah, yes, thank God 'twas so! ■.■-;:•";'• There lies nobility in dreams, And he of vision .is another Christ: Above his brow the mystic, saintly glow, . , And in his soul the music of the streams, With God he hath eternal tryst. Praise be to God for each dishonored poet Whom Death confined to these unworthy graves, They dreamt great dreams, and lo ! the world shall know it, lie only dies whom this poor brief life saves. God, the great Dreamer, saw His dream come true, And these, great souls shall have that glory, too. Tread softly—it is Freedom sleeping here. Disturb her not a while, For in her arms are those she holdeth dear, Who slumber with a smile ; And one bright morn shall Gabriel's horn ,Proclaim in tones prolonged and clear Freedom hath come into her own at last, And the great Tyrant's day is past—is past! -William C. Pocock.