WILLIAM O'KELLY 

 The Protecting Tree Of the men of the land of Fál! What aileth thee, And why is it that all About thee grieves? 

 Alas, O Tree of the Leaves! Here is thy rhyme: Thy bloom is lightened; And if thy fruit be withered Thy root hath not tightened At the same time. 

 Not since the Gael was sold At Aughrim. Not since to cold, Dull death went Owen Roe; Not since the drowning of Clann Adam in the days of Noe Brought men to hush, Has such a tale of woe come to us In such a rush. 

 The true flower of the blood of the place is fallen: The true clean-wheat of the Gael is reaped. 

 Destruction be upon Death, For he has come and taken from our tree The topmost blackberry! 

 

 

 SEAN O'COSGAIR 

 Pity it was that you should ever stand In ship or boat, Or that you went afloat Inside that ship! 

 The lusty steps you took! The ways and journeys you knew how to wend From London back to Beltra, And this end! 

 You who could swim so well! What time you sported in the lifting tides The girls swam out to you, and held your sides When they were weary, for they knew they were Safe, because you were there. 

 Your little-mother thought that this was true (And so she made no stir Till you were found), Although an hundred might be drownéd, you Would come back safe to her, And not be drowned! 

 

 

 THE COUNTY MAYO 

 Now with the coming in of the spring the days will stretch a bit, And after the Feast of Brigid I shall hoist my flag and go, For since the thought got into my head I can neither stand nor sit Until I find myself in the middle of the County of Mayo. 

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