Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Callanan

The Irish poet Jeremiah Joseph Callanan [1795-1839] has some great work. This excerpt from his poem 'The outlaw of Loch Lene' is quite interesting, with an exceptional ending. Look closely at this last stanza; it's something that will stay with you.

Read the whole short poem here, and then read the rest of the Irish verse there if it pleases you.

[...]
She stretch'd forth her arms; her mantle she flung to the wind, 
And swam o'er Loch Lene, her outlaw'd lover to find. 
 
O would that a freezing sleet-wing'd tempest did sweep, 
And I and my love were alone, far off on the deep;  
I'd ask not a ship, or a bark, or a pinnace, to save— 
With her hand round my waist, I'd fear not the wind or the wave. 
 
'Tis down by the lake where the wild tree fringes its sides, 
The maid of my heart, my fair one of Heaven resides: 
I think, as at eve she wanders its mazes among,  
The birds go to sleep by the sweet wild twist of her song.

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