Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
I. Patriotism“Bless the dear old verdant land”
Denis Florence Mac Carthy (1817–1882)B
Brother, wert thou born of it?
As thy shadow life doth stand
Twining round its rosy band,
Did an Irish mother’s hand
Guide thee in the morn of it?
Did a father’s first command
Teach thee love or scorn of it?
Dost thou feel a glow for it?
Thou of all its charms possest,
Living on its first and best,
Art thou but a thankless guest
Or a traitor foe for it,
If thou lovest, where ’s the test?
Wilt thou strike a blow for it?
That can make thee rouse for it?
Does thy land’s reviving spring,
Full of buds and blossoming,
Fail to make thy cold heart cling,
Breathing lover’s vows for it?
With the circling ocean’s ring
Thou wert made a spouse for it.
Thy affections warm for it,
Letting no cold feeling creep
Like an ice-breath o’er the deep,
Freezing to a stony sleep
Hopes the heart would form for it,
Glories that like rainbows peep
Through the darkening storm for it?
Aid us in the fight for it.
We seek to make it great and grand,
Its shipless bays, its naked strand,
By canvas-swelling breezes fanned:
Oh, what a glorious sight for it,
The past expiring like a brand
In morning’s rosy light for it!
And thou a traitor slave of it:
Think how the Switzer leads his kine,
When pale the evening star doth shine;
His song has home in every line,
Freedom in every stave of it;
Think how the German loves his Rhine
And worships every wave of it!
But oh! our hearts are cold for it;
Awake! we are not slaves, but heirs.
Our fatherland requires our cares,
Our speech with men, with God our prayers;
Spurn blood-stained Judas gold for it:
Let us do all that honor dares—
Be earnest, faithful, bold for it!