Classic Poem

I.

When all beside a vigil keep,
The West's asleep, the West's asleep —
Alas! and well may Erin weep,
When Connaught lies in slumber deep.
There lake and plain smile fair and free,
'Mid rocks — their guardian chivalry —
Sing oh! let man learn liberty
From crashing wind and lashing sea.

II.

That chainless wave and lovely land
Freedom and Nationhood demand —
Be sure, the great God never planned,
For slumbering slaves, a home so grand.
And, long, a brave and haughty race
Honoured and sentinelled the place —
Sing oh! not even their sons' disgrace
Can quite destroy their glory's trace.

III.

For often, in O'Connor's van,
To triumph dashed each Connaught clan —
And fleet as deer the Normans ran
Through Corlieu's Pass and Ardrahan
And later times saw deeds as brave;
And glory guards Clanricarde's grave —
Sing oh! they died their land to save,
At Aughrim's slopes and Shannon's wave.

IV.

And if, when all a vigil keep,
The West's asleep, the West's asleep —
Alas! and well may Erin weep,
That Connaught lies in slumber deep.
But — hark! — some voice like thunder spake
" The West's awake, the West's awake " —
" Sing oh! hurra! let England quake,
We'll watch till death for Erin's sake! "