History & Politics

To God and Ireland True

by Ellen O'Leary 1831–1889

From A Book of Irish Verse, ed. W. B. Yeats (1900)

History & Politics

I sit beside my darling's grave,
Who in the prison died,
And tho' my tears fall thick and fast,
I think of him with pride:--
Ay, softly fall my tears like dew,
For one to God and Ireland true.

'I love my God o'er all,' he said,
'And then I love my land,
And next I love my Lily sweet,
Who pledged me her white hand:--
To each--to all--I'm ever true,
To God--to Ireland and to you.'

No tender nurse his hard bed smoothed
Or softly raised his head:--
He fell asleep and woke in heaven
Ere I knew he was dead;--
Yet why should I my darling rue?
He was to God and Ireland true.

O, 'tis a glorious memory;
I'm prouder than a queen
To sit beside my hero's grave
And think on what has been:--
And O, my darling, I am true
To God--to Ireland and to you!

MLA

O'Leary, Ellen. “To God and Ireland True.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/oleary_e/0/.

Chicago

O'Leary, Ellen. “To God and Ireland True.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/oleary_e/0/.

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