Lyra Celtica: An Anthology of Representative Celtic Poetry

by Unknown

Maura Du of Ballyshannon.

CHARLES P. O’CONOR

I.

Maura du[21] of Ballyshannon!
Maura du, my flower of flowers!
Can you hear me there out seaward,
Calling back the bygone hours?
Maura du, my own, my honey!
With wild passion still aglow,
I am singing you the old songs
That I sung you long ago.
And you mind, love, how it ran on—
“In your eyes asthore machree![22]
All my Heaven there I see,
And that’s true!
Maura du!
Maura du of Ballyshannon!”

II.

Maura du of Ballyshannon!
Maura du, my soul’s one queen!
Big with love my heart is flying,
Where the grass is growing green.
Maura du, my own, my honey!
That I love you, well you know,
And still sing for you the old song,
That I sung you long ago.
And you mind, love, how it ran on—
“In your eyes asthore machree!
All my Heaven there I see,
And that’s true!
Maura du!
Maura du of Ballyshannon!”

CHARLES P. O’CONOR

III.

Maura du of Ballyshannon,
Maura du, the day is drear!
Ah, the night is long and weary,
Far away from you, my dear!
Maura du, my own, my honey!
Still let winds blow high or low,
I must sing to you the old song,
That I sung you long ago,
And you mind, love, how it ran on—
“In your eyes asthore machree!
All my Heaven there I see,
And that’s true!
Maura du!
Maura du of Ballyshannon!”

IV.

Maura du of Ballyshannon!
Maura du, when winds blow south,
I will with the birds fly homeward,
There to kiss your Irish mouth.
Maura du, my own, my honey!
When time is no longer foe,
By your side I’ll sing the old song,
That I sung you long ago,
And you mind, love, how it ran on—
“In your eyes asthore machree!
All my Heaven there I see,
And that’s true!
Maura du!
Maura du of Ballyshannon!”