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Open Poetry #44
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The Roisin Dubh........St. Paddy Repost
| Open Poetry #44 |
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The Roisin Dubh........St. Paddy Repost |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA 
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Scotland has the thistle - Mother England has the rose. Ireland has the shamrock which, of course, the whole world knows But there is yet another symbol deep in Irish Lore By which the Emerald Isle was known so many years before. Penal laws against the Church wreaked havoc on the land. Harsh tariffs forced the starving countryside to make its stand. They banded into warring groups - the symbol that they chose In Irish is the Roisin Dubh - in English.....the Black Rose. In the Young Irish disorders, back in 1848 Nine Irishmen were treasonous and brought before the gate. All members of the Roisin Dubh, their fate was quickly known And they were given one last chance for their crimes to atone. Their leader, Thomas Meagher, said "This is our first offence And we were caught because we lack enough experience. If you will set us free, be sure the lesson has been taught And, in the future, I assure you we will not get caught!" Indignant judges sentenced them to be hung until dead Then drawn and quartered. Through the world the verdict quickly sped. Strong public outcry forced Victoria to stay her hand And send them to Austrailia, then a wild and hostile land. Twenty-six years afterwards, news came across the sea, Astounded Queen Victoria so bad she dropped her tea. The elected Premier of Victoria that the people chose Was Charles Duffy, one of the nine of the infamous Black Rose! On Queen's demand, the records of the nine men were uncovered And, when compiled, this is what Victoria discovered... Charles Duffy Premier of Victoria Thomas Francis Meagher Governor of Montana Terrence McManus Brigadier General, United States Army Patrick Donahue Brigadier General, United States Army Richard O'Gorman Governor General of Newfoundland Morris Lyene Attorney General of Australia Michael Ireland Succeeded Morris Lyene as Attorney General Thomas D'Arcy McGee Member of Parliament, Montreal Minister of Agriculture President of Council Dominion of Canada John Mitchell Prominent New York Politician Father of John Purroy Mitchell, Mayor of New York So gather 'round the campfire, Lads. We'll raise a cup or two On chilly Irish evenings when the moon is in full hue For those brave lads who chose to stand and fight dear Ireland's foes And we shall ne'er forget the Roisin Dubh....our own Black Rose. The song, the Roisin Dubh, is reputed to have originated in the camps of Red Hugh O'Donnell, a seventeenth century chieftan at odds with Elizabethian rule. The Irish words have often been translated, the most famous of all being James Clarence Mangan's "Dark Rosaleen". O MY Dark Rosaleen, Do not sigh, do not weep! The priests are on the ocean green, They march along the deep. There’s wine from the royal Pope, Upon the ocean green; And Spanish ale shall give you hope, My Dark Rosaleen! My own Rosaleen! Shall glad your heart, shall give you hope, Shall give you health, and help, and hope, My Dark Rosaleen! Over hills, and thro’ dales, Have I roam’d for your sake; All yesterday I sail’d with sails On river and on lake. The Erne, at its highest flood, I dash’d across unseen, For there was lightning in my blood, My Dark Rosaleen! My own Rosaleen! O, there was lightning in my blood, Red lightning lighten’d thro’ my blood. My Dark Rosaleen! All day long, in unrest, To and fro, do I move. The very soul within my breast Is wasted for you, love! The heart in my bosom faints To think of you, my Queen, My life of life, my saint of saints, My Dark Rosaleen! My own Rosaleen! To hear your sweet and sad complaints, My life, my love, my saint of saints, My Dark Rosaleen! Woe and pain, pain and woe, Are my lot, night and noon, To see your bright face clouded so, Like to the mournful moon. But yet will I rear your throne Again in golden sheen; Tis you shall reign, shall reign alone, My Dark Rosaleen! My own Rosaleen! ’Tis you shall have the golden throne, ’Tis you shall reign, and reign alone, My Dark Rosaleen! Over dews, over sands, Will I fly, for your weal: Your holy delicate white hands Shall girdle me with steel. At home, in your emerald bowers, From morning’s dawn till e’en, You’ll pray for me, my flower of flowers, My Dark Rosaleen! My fond Rosaleen! You’ll think of me through daylight hours, My virgin flower, my flower of flowers, My Dark Rosaleen! I could scale the blue air, I could plough the high hills, O, I could kneel all night in prayer, To heal your many ills! And one beamy smile from you Would float like light between My toils and me, my own, my true, My Dark Rosaleen! My fond Rosaleen! Would give me life and soul anew, A second life, a soul anew, My Dark Rosaleen! O, the Erne shall run red, With redundance of blood, The earth shall rock beneath our tread, And flames wrap hill and wood, And gun-peal and slogan-cry Wake many a glen serene, Ere you shall fade, ere you shall die, My Dark Rosaleen! My own Rosaleen! The Judgement Hour must first be nigh, Ere you can fade, ere you can die, My Dark Rosaleen! James Clarence Mangan 1803-1849 |
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| © Copyright 2009 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved | |||
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
what a fine lesson! |
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Oklahoma Rose Senior Member
since 2008-02-28
Posts 1586Oklahoma USA |
I don't remember reading this, before. I wonder how I missed it. As always, though, you are the best. I always enjoy reading you wonderful poetry. |
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Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Me either, how did I ever miss this one. Had to send to the all my seniors to enjoy. This was wonderful Michael. |
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A Romantic Heart Member Ascendant
since 1999-09-03
Posts 5496Forever In Your Heart |
Well, thank you, what a treat for St. Paddys day! I am always fascinated by stories revealing traditions etc. I love watching the History channel and A&E. Celtic music is one of my favorites to listen to and write poems by, I love the old Irish folk songs ....  ~ARH HUGS [This message has been edited by A Romantic Heart (03-17-2009 05:09 AM).] |
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ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
Very interesting indeed. The next place authorities will be sending political discordants is the Artic. Without a ski-do suit. I'd like to write a poem about that but I'm just too damn cold! However, that's what the population explosion will do to those in charge. Despite spiders and all those other creepy killing characters, I'd prefer Australia but that's been done. Maybe Robert Srevice will come back?? We're off to Dublin in the green in the green. Excellent work Michael. Eric |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Loved this before and love it still... Éirinn go brách! |
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Artic Wind Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080Realm of Supernatural |
Enjoyed this Write! HAPPY ST.PATRICK'S DAY   ARCTIC WIND |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Thank you, Charlene!! Happy St. Paddy's Day to you as well!  |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
It's a great lesson, truth be said. I remember it well.  |
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Artic Wind Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080Realm of Supernatural |
LOL oppssyy! LOL Wrong name, Oh dear (HAH get it? dear! LOL okay I will calm down now)  Again, nice write **giggle** p.s and I did fix the little mistake ARCTIC WIND |
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1slick_lady Member Ascendant
since 2000-12-22
Posts 6088standing on a shadow's lace |
Lá ’le Pádraig |
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moonbeam
since 2005-12-24
Posts 2356 |
It's a nice poem Mike and an instructive lesson, yet I have to admit I always watch the St P's celebrations in the US with mixed feelings, remembering some of the misguided support for the IRA from that quarter. Nationalism in general is a mixed blessing imo, and sometimes I wonder whether we wouldn't all be better off if our roots were erased from our memory banks. M |
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Klassy Lassy Member Elite
since 2005-06-28
Posts 2187Oregon |
You are truly a master poet, Michael. I enjoyed reading this bit of history through the rhythm and flawless rhyme of your verse. Not only is the history amazing, so is your talent. I was also looking at your assignment with the meter and male/female six-line verse poetry and wish I had time to work on it. I often find the discipline of form poetry beyond me, and am fascinated with its variations.  ~ KL |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
Like Klassy Lassy, I enjoyed the history lesson and the rhythm and rhyme format that makes it noticeably yours. M |
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Marsha
since 2000-07-10
Posts 7423Maidstone Kent England |
'Deer darling man, this is SUPERB and I loved it. Why can I never write anything half as well as you do? Thank you for the history lesson, and the lesson in writing truly outstanding poetry. Reading you is always a pleasure. And I never say no to some pleasure. As always Marsha X x x x x x x x Tomorrow is another day I don't know what it holds |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Enjoyed this excellent poem and learned something as well. Ida |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
I echo all of the above, Deer One!  Me blood be stirred when I read thy words! Balladeer go brách! I tips me halo ta ya! Linda |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
Balladeer, I'm afraid I missed it too for you have created a masterpiece with this one. A great piece of history in poetical form. You wrote it well. Thank you for sharing. Lindsay |
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