After the Fianna

Long, this night, the clouds delay,
And long to me was yesternight,
Long was the dreary day, this day,
Long, yesterday, the light.

Each day that comes to me is long —
Not thus our wont to be of old,
With never music, harp nor song,
Nor clang of battles bold.

No wooing soft, nor feats of might,
Nor cheer of chase, nor ancient lore,
Nor banquet gay, nor gallant fight —
All things beloved of yore.

No marching now with martial fire —
Alas, the tears that make me blind —

Far other was my heart's desire
A-hunting stag and hind.

Long this night the clouds delay —
No striving now as champions strove,
No run of hounds with mellow bay,
Nor leap in lakes we love.

No hero now where heroes hurled —
Long this night the clouds delay —
No man like me in all the world,
Alone with grief, and gray.

Long this night the clouds delay —
I raise their grave-earn, stone on stone,
For Fionn and Fianna passed away —
I, Ossian, left alone.