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The Roisin Dubh....St. Patrick's Day repost
| Open Poetry #25 |
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The Roisin Dubh....St. Patrick's Day 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 2003 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved | ||||
Jeffrey Carter
since 2000-04-08
Posts 2367State of constant confusion! |
very elequent and informative.... you sir are the tops when it comes to thistype of poetry  |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
This is why I look forward to St. Patty's day...just to see the treasures of the past! |
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SmartChick Member Rara Avis
since 2001-09-23
Posts 7081On A Journey To The Unknown |
This is a fantastic poem, Balladeer! I am so glad to see you, this morning. I don't see you much anymore. Hope everything is okay. |
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Cpat Hair
since 2001-06-05
Posts 11793 |
nicely done 'Deer... a history lesson for me this morning..and done in fine rhyme... of course..I did have to keep nudging myself awake to finish it..  |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Thank you, Deer... This is a very special St. Patrick's Day treat... Hope you have a marvelously green day...  |
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Aenimal Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350the ass-end of space |
Wonderful history lesson in rhyme |
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Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
"Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..." |
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
OHMYGOSH!! This is fantastic 'Deer! Happy St. Patrick's Day to you poet sir! ~Smiles & Hugs~ ~ Trace my body with your words.. |
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regards2you Member Elite
since 2002-10-01
Posts 3940California |
I found the information provided through your great talent very enjoyable. Thank you, Pat  ..without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.. |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Balladeer~ I thought of this poem last evening ... and am sooooooo pleased to find it here today~ Poignantly done ... a pure 'goose-bumpy' read each time~ *Huglets* ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ |
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scorpio Member Ascendant
since 2002-10-02
Posts 5178right...there |
Michael, thank you for this wonderful write and the history lesson... on this day, I'll raise a glass of amber gold to you and the nine you so eloquently wrote about.. believe in what your heart feels... |
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kayjay Member Elite
since 2002-06-24
Posts 2015Oregon |
I'm not one often known for being unable to speak But the words you've penned this morning have made me a little weak. No Irish blood flows in me; there's no Guiness that I seek But could I tell a tale like you, I wouldn't feel so bleak! This is a wonderful tale and history lesson..and so well done!! Ken Through rubble and trouble and dark of night |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Jeffrey....I appreciate your comments, as always, sir.. SUnshine..so many pots of gold...so little time! SmartChick..thank you! I don't get around much anymore...thanks for being there!! Ron..I appreciate your appreciation.. (you should be used to nudging yourself awake by now )Nan....here's green right back atcha! (why can't any of it be MONEY!!??) Aenimal...thank you for enjoying it.. Noah....your response was so subtle I almost missed it!! LOL! Thank you, my friend.. Enchantress...Happy St. Paddy's Day to you, too!! May the magic of the Emerald Isle be with you.... Pat...thank you so much for enjoying it and finding it insightful!! Marge...it's always a pleasure to read your thoughts. I thank you... scorpio...I'll be happy to join you in that toast. The Irish have a rich heritage, worthy of a lifting of the glass... kayjay...You may not have Irish blood but you obviously have an appreciation for their heritage and that makes you honorary Irish at least! Thank you for reading... |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
This has become as important to my March as the wearing of the green on the 17th. *S* As always, Bal... a sheer delight. *S* |
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