'Tis gone, and for ever, the light we saw breaking, <br />Like Heaven's first dawn o'er the sleep of the dead -- <br />When Man, from the slumber of ages awaking, <br />Look'd upward, and bless'd the pure ray, ere it fled. <br />'Tis gone, and the gleams it has left of its burning, <br />But deepen the long night of bondage and mourning, <br />That dark o'er the kingdoms of earth is returning, <br />And darkest of all, hapless Erin, o'er thee. <br /> <br />For high was thy hope, when those glories were darting <br />Around thee, through all the gross clouds of the world; <br />When Truth, from her letters indignantly starting, <br />At once, like a sun-burst, her banner unfurl'd. <br />Oh! never shall earth see a moment so splendid! <br />Then, then -- had one Hymn of Deliverance blended <br />The tongues of all nations -- how sweet had ascended <br />The first note of liberty , Erin, from thee! <br /> <br />But, shame on those tyrants who envied the blessing! <br />And shame on the light race, unworthy its good, <br />Who, at Death's reeking altar, like furies, caressing <br />The young hope of Freedom, baptised it in blood. <br />Then vanish'd for ever that fair sunny vision, <br />Which, spite of the slavish, the cold heart's derision, <br />Shall long be remember'd, pure, bright, and elysian, <br />As first it arose, my lost Erin, on thee.<br /><br />Thomas Moore<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/tis-gone-and-for-ever/
