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Balladeer
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0 posted 2009-03-16 09:03 PM



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

© Copyright 2009 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved
passing shadows
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since 1999-08-26
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displaced
1 posted 2009-03-16 10:20 PM


what a fine lesson!


Oklahoma Rose
Senior Member
since 2008-02-28
Posts 1586
Oklahoma USA
2 posted 2009-03-16 10:27 PM


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.
Mysteria
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since 2001-03-07
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British Columbia, Canada
3 posted 2009-03-17 02:14 AM


Me either, how did I ever miss this one.  Had to send to the all my seniors to enjoy.  This was wonderful Michael.
A Romantic Heart
Member Ascendant
since 1999-09-03
Posts 5496
Forever In Your Heart
4 posted 2009-03-17 02:33 AM


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).]

ethome
Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada
5 posted 2009-03-17 03:55 AM


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

suthern
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Louisiana
6 posted 2009-03-17 11:08 AM


Loved this before and love it still...

Éirinn go brách!

Artic Wind
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080
Realm of Supernatural
7 posted 2009-03-17 12:54 PM





Enjoyed this Write!

HAPPY ST.PATRICK'S DAY



ARCTIC WIND

Balladeer
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Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
8 posted 2009-03-17 01:00 PM


Thank you, Charlene!! Happy St. Paddy's Day to you as well!
Sunshine
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Listening to every heart
9 posted 2009-03-17 03:08 PM



It's a great lesson, truth be said.
I remember it well.




Artic Wind
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080
Realm of Supernatural
10 posted 2009-03-17 07:44 PM


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

1slick_lady
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since 2000-12-22
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standing on a shadow's lace
11 posted 2009-03-17 11:02 PM


Lá ’le Pádraig

moonbeam
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12 posted 2009-03-18 06:15 AM


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

Klassy Lassy
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since 2005-06-28
Posts 2187
Oregon
13 posted 2009-03-18 07:54 AM


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

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200
Between the Lines
14 posted 2009-03-19 06:19 AM


Like Klassy Lassy, I enjoyed the history lesson and the rhythm and rhyme format that makes it noticeably yours.

M

Marsha
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since 2000-07-10
Posts 7423
Maidstone Kent England
15 posted 2009-03-19 01:11 PM


'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.

Love and warm stuff
As always
Marsha
X x x x x x x x  

Tomorrow is another day I don't know what it holds
but I can face the future with courage brave and bold

Footprints In My Heart
Kethry

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California
16 posted 2009-03-21 01:04 AM


Enjoyed this excellent poem and learned something as well.
                             Ida

Earth Angel
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since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
17 posted 2009-03-21 05:14 PM


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

LindsayP
Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410
Australia, Victoria
18 posted 2009-03-21 08:37 PM



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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