Selected Poetry

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 16, 6 May 1925, Page 32

Selected Poetry

[Note.—The poems we give this week may be deemed appropriate to the Silver. Jubilee celebrations now being held in connection with Holy Cross College, Mosgiel.] ,

v SOGGAIITH AROON. Am I the slave they say, Soggarth Aroon? Since you did show the way, Soggarth Aroon, Their slave no more to be, While they would work with me Old Ireland's slavery, Soggarth Aroon, Why not her poorest man, Soggarth Aroon, Try to do all he can, Soggarth Aroon, Her commands to fulfil Of bis own heart and will, Side by side with you still Soggarth Aroon ? Loyal and brave to you, Soggarth Aroon, Yet be not slave to you, Soggarth Araon, Nor, out of fear to you, Stand up so near to you, Ot-b ! out of fear to you, Soggarth Aroon! Who, in the winter's night, Soggarth Aroon, When the cold blast did bite, Soggarth Aroon, Came to my cabin door, And, on my earthen floor, Knelt by me, sick and poor, Soggarth Aroon? Who, on the marriage day, Soggarth Aroon, Made the poor cabin gay, Soggarth. Aroon, And did both laugh and sing. Making our hearts to ring, At the poor christening, • Soggarth Aroon? "Who, as friend only met, Soggarth Aroon, Never did flout me yet, Soggarth Aroon ? And. when my heart was dim. (Jive, while his eye did brim, Whit I should give to him, Soggaith Aroon? Oeh ! you, and only you, ; ,. : Soggarth Aroon ! And for this I was true to you, ;'l Soggarth Aroon ; In love they'll never shake, When for ould Ireland's sake, 'Wo'a true part did take, Soggarth Aroon ! —John Banim\ in Irish Minstrelsy.

IN MEMORIAM. KBVBRENDISSIMI DOMINI MICHAELJS VEEDON. Not in commotion, Lord, swept by no storm or strife, From dawn to evening star lie lived bis peaceful life. Never the vain applause, never the garish light Stifled the inner call, clouded the inner sight. Prayer was his lamp of life, Duty his guiding law, Clear through tho mists below the Sun of. Heaven bo saw. Sweeter than incense rose the worship of bis days; ' .Moving amongst us here, with God be walked always. The work of his bands we know: its record is writ in stone; But the temple of God within was bis and find's alone. Ah! hut we saw the glow and the gleam that wimpled through The body thai veiled a shrine too sacred for men to view. Not in commotion, Lord, peaceful and calm he died, Sleeping a little while to rise with the Crucified. —J.K. »»«■# IN ME MORI AM-. RI3VEUEND JAMES MAC3USXAM.IN. Somewhere in France A little wooden cross will mark your tomb, And men who loved you in these awful years Will kneel beside it with eyes wet with tears. Somewhere in France - . When night has veiled the stricken fields in gloom, And wondering stars are shining in the sky, 4 They'll speak of you and tell bow heroes die. Somewhere in France Where the Wild Geese found many a lonely grave, The land they loved has caught you to her breast And given you with them unending rest. Somewhere in France Our island heroes whom you died to save, When the swift summons, called you . to your crown,: •.,... With loving hands have laid their Padre down, ; ~,.., - „ ..... .. ..,. !:, | Somewhere in France. ''-.-'.:. ■ -J.K.

IN MEMORIAM.

REVEREND! PATRITII DOPE. ;; Sag art a run ! Your work is o’er, And you have now unending rest; The chalice you will raise no more Is clasped : in cold hands on your breast. Short was your day ! But who shall tell r How, great your merit in God’s sight? From dawn to dusk yon labored well, And heavy were your sheaves ere night. In-perfect peace, and far from pain,,. The cross for ever laid away, Your losses are eternal gain . In the clear dawn of Heaven’s day. We bend above your silent bier, Where in your sleep you now lie down, And pray, God rest you, Fhadraig, dear! Who pass to wear your shining crown. —J.K. S?SC IN MEMORIAM. FATHER. JOHN o’DONNE Eli. In the lap of the lonely mountains, .1 Saga we laid you down For the long, long day is ended And your own the victor’s crown. The deep lake lies below you, And the strong hills vigil keep, Sentinels serried guarding Yon, Sugar!, in your sleep. Mo bhron ! With God you were walking And never your feet grew tired: Strong heart, that never faltered, By Christ’s own Heart inspired! Sloop, mid your own loved mountains With the garnered peace you won — Sleep, Saga if, your toil is over: 0 faithful soul. Well Done! —J.K.: FAREWELLS! They are so sad to say: no poem tells The agony of hearts that dwells ... In lone and last farewells. They are like deaths: they bring a- wintry chill To Summer’s roses, and to Summer’s rill;: ■ And yet we breathe them still. For pure as altar-lights hearts pass away; ( Hearts! wo said to them, “Stay with us! Stay!” And they said, sighing as they said it, “Nay.” The sunniest days are shortest; darkness tells , The starless story of the night that dwells M In lone and last farewells. ,7 .77, Two faces meet here, there, or anywhere: Hi :/ Each wears the thoughts the other face may wear; : d-td ■' -n r:. ; T-nkgn.-j Their hearts may break, breathing ‘farewell for‘or. ; r 1. T: :-w . aMiyrlwr (Father) Abram J. Ryan, in Poems'. ■> .