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Roisin Dubh (repost for St. Patrick's Day)
| Open Poetry #12 |
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Roisin Dubh (repost for St. Patrick's Day) |
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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 2001 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Corinne Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167state of confusion |
Very moving, thank you for reposting, me dear ole Deer. Corinne |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Years, and years ago....I read a book titled "The Black Rose..." I remember.... thank you 'Deer....for bringing it back to me.... |
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Joyce Johnson
since 2001-03-10
Posts 9912Washington State |
Thank you, thank you. I call this true poetry. Joyce |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
What the world would have lost if the hangman's noose had been filled... This is beautiful, Balladeer... and the poetic perfection we expect from your pen! |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
I was hoping you would repost this for the holiday! Our ancestors were strong, proud people. It's amazing, despite the hardships suffered by them, even into this century, they remain one of the most jovial pleasant bunch of people you could ever hope to find anywhere, don't you think? Fantastic writing, as always, Balladeer! |
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doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
i Loved it before and i Love it even more now.... you are indeed my favorite poet......  what a wonderful treasure this piece is..... thank you for reposting it, michael! |
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doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
double post, sorry *wink* [This message has been edited by doreen peri (edited 03-17-2001).] |
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Lady In White
since 2001-02-12
Posts 2799USA |
'Tis a fair, fair story, from a far-away time.... |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Hi! I am new here and I am so glad you re-posted this, and truly wish you "old-timers" would drag out your "best" from the archives once in a while, as they are new to us! This was fantastic, but then I spotted you right away! Great work. |
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inot2B Member Elite
since 2000-09-18
Posts 2205Arkansas |
I do so enjoy your history lessons. You always make it fun to learn. [This message has been edited by inot2B (edited 03-17-2001).] |
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KokoStewartKoomoa Senior Member
since 2000-12-04
Posts 580Waikiki, Hawaii |
Wonderful and so absolutely talented! I agree with mysteria. I have not been here all that long either and would love to see more of those reposted from the archives  Passion,imagination |
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Trillium
since 2001-03-09
Posts 12098Idaho, USA |
I remember Dark Rosaleen from years ago. Your poem deserves to be recognized beyond the Internet. Is it published anywhere? Just a terrific story! You have a wonderful talent. Betty Lou Hebert |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Balladeer~ This piece shines with pride. Thank you for once again moving us with your talent. What a wonderful history lesson contained in this work. Blessings~ *Hugs* ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ |
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