The 'Midian-Mara'

For the famished Land,
I beheld her lying
THERE'S a sad sea-maiden
On the yellow strand!
Sighs day and night;

IV.

For lack of Eden
Like the silver shining
Her eyes weep sore;
Was the Maiden's skin,
If you come upon her
The red locks twining
By pale moonlight, —
To the breasts of white,
Farewell to honour
Her cheeks were hueless
For evermore!
And chill and thin,
Tho' her hair is redder
Her lips were dewless,
Than blood fresh spilt,
But her eyes were bright.
'Tis you must wed her
Behind her creeping
And share her guilt;
I held her hair, —
'Tis you, more pity!
As she scream'd upleaping
Must buried be
I said the prayer; —
In her shining City
'O Midian-Mara!
Beneath the Sea.
I hold thee mine:
Thy help I borrow,
By the Cross's sign! '
But shouldest thou view her
When shines the sun,

V.

And softly unto her
Hast thou ever noted
On tiptoe creep,
A wounded seal,
You'll find her dozing
As it bleats shrill-throated
As I have done,
Before it dies?
Naked reposing
As a seal's eyes turning
In a sunny sleep;
On them that kill,
'Anglice, 'The Mermaid.' a The year of Irish famine. 3 Ghost or spirit
With a dying yearning,
On, a strand of snow,
Were the maiden's eyes.
Its bright towers beaming
With those orbs of azure
All glass and gold!
She gazed on me: —
And a sound thrilled thro' me
'O what's thy pleasure,
Like the sound of bells,
Gilli ma chree!
Upwafted to me
And her tears fell brightly
On the ocean swells;
Upon the sands,
And I saw far under,
As she trembled whitely
Within those same,
With wringing hands.
White shapes of wonder
That went and came!

VI.

'O take me straightway,'

IX.

To her said I,
'O Mary, mother,
'To the City's gateway
That savest me,
That well ye know —
'Tis the place, no other,
'Tis the hunger kills me,
Where I would go;
And that's no lie,
For 'tis sweet and pleasant,
And a longing fills me
Set 'neath the Sea
From earth to go.'
In the bright white crescent
She ceased her crying,
Of the strand below.
And sadly said,
'Tis the hunger in me
With the white gulls flying
That works its will,
Above her head,
Lest the devil win me
'Is it there, mavourneen,
To steal or kill.'
Ye'd wish to stand,
I held her tighter,
That were bred and born in
And prayed anew: —
A Christian land?'
As I spoke, still brighter
That vision grew.

VII.

I knew her nature

X.

Was sly and deep,
Still glassy and shining
Tho' the wicked creature
Those walls of flame,
Had a heavenly face;
With the sea-weeds twining
And I looked below me
Around their feet;
At the waves asleep,
More large the place's
As I answered, ' Show me
Great towers became,
That very place!
Till I saw the faces
'Tis You must charm me
In the golden street.
To take the track,
I saw and knew them
And no hand shall harm me
(The Lord's my guide!)
Till I come back. '
As the water drew them
As I spake, deep thunder
From side to side;
Was heard that day,
I saw the creatures,
And I saw, far under,
And I knew them then —
Where the City lay!
The wool-white features
Of drowned men!

VIII.

'Neath the green still ocean,

XI.

Far, far, below,
Upright they drifted,
With a mystic motion
All wet and cold,
That can't be told,
By the sea-wash lifted
I saw it gleaming
Like the red sea-tang,
While in wild sad cadence,
From the towers of gold,
The pale sea-maidens
Struck harps and sang
'O shule, shule,
O shule, aroon!'
I tell thee truly,
I heard them croon;
Then I heard that thunder
Roll deep once more,
And I swooned for wonder
On the yellow shore!
When I raised in sorrow
My fearful face,
Was fled from me;
Without repining
I left the place,
As the Moon rose shining
Beyond the sea.
And my feet went faster
To see her light,
For I feared disaster
If I stayed that night .,
When God took pity,
And brought me bread,
I forgot that City
Of the drowned dead.