As we came down the old boreen, <br />Rose and I – Rose and I, <br />At vesper time on Sunday e’en, <br />We heard a banshee cry! <br />Beyond the churchyard dim and dark, <br />‘Neath whispering elms, and yew-trees stark, <br />Where our star shone-a corpse-like spark- <br />Against the wintry sky. <br /> <br />We heard and shuddered sick with dread, <br />Rose and I- Rose and I, <br />As the shrill keening rang o’erhead <br />Where cloud-wrack floated high. <br />Our two young hearts long, sorely tried, <br />By poverty and love denied <br />Still waiting for some favouring tide, <br />And now! Death come so nigh. <br /> <br />‘Which of us two is called away <br />You or I-You or I?” <br />I heard my patient poor love say, <br />With bitter plaintive sigh. <br />‘Neither, dear girl,” I bravely said, <br />‘To Mary Mother bow your head, <br />And cry for help to Her instead, <br />Nor heed the Banshee’s cry’. <br /> <br />We raised our hearts in fervent prayer, <br />Rose and I-Rose and I, <br />Nor knew our troubles ended there, <br />Our happiness came nigh. <br />For ‘twas the grim old farmer, he- <br />My only kin, rich, miserly, <br />Who, dying left his wealth to me- <br />For whom the banshee cried.<br /><br />Alice Guerin Crist<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-banshee-2/
