O MY land! O my love! <br />What a woe, and how deep, <br />Is thy death to my long mourning soul! <br />God alone, God above, <br />Can awake thee from sleep, <br />Can release thee from bondage and dole! <br />Alas, alas, and alas! <br />For the once proud people of Banba! <br /> <br />As a tree in its prime, <br />Which the axe layeth low, <br />Didst thou fall, O unfortunate land! <br />Not by time, nor thy crime, <br />Came the shock and the blow. <br />They were given by a false felon hand! <br />Alas, alas, and alas! <br />For the once proud people of Banba! <br /> <br />O, my grief of all griefs <br />Is to see how thy throne <br />Is usurped, whilst thyself art in thrall! <br />Other lands have their chiefs, <br />Have their kings, thou alone <br />Art a wife, yet a widow withal! <br />Alas, alas, and alas! <br />For the once proud people of Banba! <br /> <br />The high house of O’Neill <br />Is gone down to the dust, <br />The O’Brien is clanless and banned; <br />And the steel, the red steel <br />May no more be the trust <br />Of the Faithful and Brave in the land! <br />Alas, alas, and alas! <br />For the once proud people of Banba! <br /> <br />True, alas! Wrong and Wrath <br />Were of old all too rife. <br />Deeds were done which no good man admires <br />And perchance Heaven hath <br />Chastened us for the strife <br />And the blood-shedding ways of our sires! <br />Alas, alas, and alas! <br />For the once proud people of Banba! <br /> <br />But, no more! This our doom, <br />While our hearts yet are warm, <br />Let us not over weakly deplore! <br />For the hour soon may loom <br />When the Lord’s mighty hand <br />Shall be raised for our rescue once more! <br />And all our grief shall be turned into joy <br />For the still proud people of Banba!<br /><br />James Clarence Mangan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lament-for-banba/
