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Open Poetry #19
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Roisin Dubh....reposted for catalinamoon's challenge
| Open Poetry #19 |
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Roisin Dubh....reposted for catalinamoon's challenge |
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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 2002 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved | |||
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amigo Senior Member
since 2001-10-12
Posts 520the earth school |
You truly are a great narrator, dear Michael, i wish you write a book of poems uncovering the mystery of history & traditions.....thank you for sharing, & challenge very well met, Sir...  |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Isn't this a little early for a *bump* |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Balladeer~ Just ONE of the many 'favorites' I have of yours~ It's just beautiful~ *Hugs* ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
What can I say, you are "The Man"I missed this and sure glad I have it to tuck away for some real nice folks around St. Paddy's Day  Excellent da dumming.Live today like it was your last day on earth! |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
  BRAVO!!! ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, DEAREST FRIEND!!! WOW, I never ever heard of that legacy of the Black Rose, though I have seen pictures of the icon always, you always teach me so much with your words...oohhhhhh...I'm just so happy you're here as we all are so happy to have such a loving friend like you who always flows with lovely song and verse! (BIG HUGGGSSSSSS) We all love you so much, sweet friend, this is outstanding! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Michael, thank you for sharing!   May love and light always shine upon you! Love, Noah Eaton [This message has been edited by Mistletoe Angel (02-20-2002 08:27 AM).] |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
So good of you to repost this for Catalinamoon...just what she would want! Perfection... |
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catalinamoon
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543The Shores of Alone |
AWESOME, of course. There is much of the history I need to learn. This was very interesting, and well done. Thanks Sandra |
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Lucie Senior Member
since 1999-06-20
Posts 1077Houston |
AHHHHHHH!! Nuff Said! Remember me with a smile on your face, or please don't remember me at all. |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
Mike, One of yours I've never read. Glad you reposted this. It is a treasure. |
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Nightshade
since 2001-08-31
Posts 13962just out of reach |
I am so happy that this was reposted. Wouldn't want to have missed this wonderful write. Chris Life is not measured by breaths you take, but by moments that take your breath away. |
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strbbux Member Elite
since 2001-12-19
Posts 3859 |
Oh my Baladeer, I do love how you write and these stories are learning experiences. thank you. much. floria Floria |
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Rex Allen McCoy Member Elite
since 2000-01-30
Posts 2863Sippin a Timmy's in London |
Excellent writing Balladeer I've read the story before, but I enjoy your tellings far better ... |
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amusemi Senior Member
since 2001-12-08
Posts 1262A State of Disarray |
Yes, one should never underestimate Irish brass!!! Top o' the mornin' to ya! I'm a wee bit o' an Irish lass, and I adore this bit o' me history...thanks!! |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
If I read this a million times, I'll savor each reading. *S* I doubt you remember, but I once got into trouble for picking thistles... and here I was just following my heritage! *G* Excellent work, Deer One. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
amigo...thank you. That IS a very interesting idea. I would like that!! Larry...NEVER too early, sir!! Marge..I thank you, dear lady. It's an honor being a favorite of yours... Mysteria...give the ladies my regards! Noah...thank you for your kindness...glad I was able to enrich your knowledge a tad. Sunshine...thank you...and I thank her for the opportunity to repost. Sandra...Ireland is FILLED with so much interesting history and legends. It is indeed an enchanting isle....glad you enjoyed. Lucie...thank you for your comment from the Land of Ahhhhs!! Sy...I thank you, good sir.. Nightshade...a comment like yours makes the reposting well worthwhile. Thank you.. Floria..learning can be a lot of fun...combining it with poetry makes it so much the better...glad you enjoyed! Rex...thank you! Very nice to hear from you and I'm happy you liked it! amusmi....I THOUGHT you might have a little Irish in ya! Can't hide that brassy and wonderfully friendly Irish flavor. Thank you, lassie!! |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Thanks, suthern, you old thistle picker! Yep, it's in your jeans...oh, that must hurt! |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Ah Michael, I am so pleased you reposted this gem as I wasnt't here when last it was seen upon the blue pages. You are THE most talented storyteller....love it! ~Hugs, Nancy~ ~Love, like magic, depends on believing.~ |
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Madame Chipmunk Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296Michigan |
This is an interesting piece of history, Michael...and you tell it so well! Thanks for the history lesson  copyright2002 Lyra Nesius |
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Krissy Senior Member
since 2002-02-22
Posts 556kent England |
Hi ‘Deer this is Krissy (Mushy’s daughter) I’ve joined because I wanted to leave little notes on the poems as she does. I don’t write anything, but I do enjoy reading, so here I am. I’ve read your poems for a little while now, and this is an excellent piece. I really enjoyed the history lesson, certainly far more than I ever enjoyed them at school. You would have made an very good teacher I think, very entertaining and lively, which is what was needed to keep the attention of our form. (They were a lot of hooligans,) I truly believe that about half the people I was in school with now reside in Rochester, it being a prison for lesser category offenders and the other half are probably awaiting arrest even now. Anyway this is a very entertaining and interesting read and I look forward to leaving little notes on more of your writing. Thank you for the learning experience  Love and warm stuff As always Krissy And while thy willing soul transpiers |
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Honeybee Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-26
Posts 5372Ontario, CANADA |
I'm glad that you re-posted this, I've never read it before...and it is outstanding! Bravo! You're a world class cutie patootie poet  Take care, Melissa~ "Poetry is not an opinion expressed... |
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doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
hi Michael!!   to you on this one!! the extent of your research & historical knowledge along with your superior presentation is brilliant.!!!!....(even though i tried to write that sentence 3 times and it still isn't grammatically correct.... geesh... i hope you know what i mean... forgive me... aww geez...somebody told me i apologize too much... i'm sorry!!! forgive me for asking forgiveness... damn!! oh i have a better idea, just forgive me for everything... for all of world history and for the future, too .... ok? don't ask my roison.... i'd have to say , beats me, dubh!! LOL... well, i make myself laugh anyway.... that's a step in the right direction... you think that will help me write grammatically correct sentences? hmmmmmmmm????) geezzz , all this to say you are a fine writer, Michael Mack, and this is a Classic!!!  |
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