An alien race a land of freemen goaded,
And pitiless as proud, took up their reign,
And ruffian stern, the heavy burden loaded,
On hearts that rankled 'neath the bondsman's chain.
I heard the Belgian bells prophetic ringing,
And deep and calm their voices seemed to say:
"Let faith and hope in every heart keep springing,
For Belgium shall regain her own some day!"
And joy again shall gladden tearful faces,
And exiled feet again shall press her sod,
And soft intoned within the sacred places,
Shall lift the prayers of Belgians unto God.
I heard the bells of Belgium wildly ringing,
With madness of great gladness did they ring;
They pealed of triumph, and a nation bringing
Unto his own, its hero and its King.
LAD OF MY HEART
Lad of my Heart—for you I am lonely,
And drear are the hills though they say they are green.
'Tis a sad lass I am with loving you only,
Will you never come back to your Irish colleen?
Lad of my Heart—that day I remember,
When out of the town with the soldiers away,
You marched to the war in the early September,
And left me to fight, while I left you to pray.
Lad of my Heart—do you hear my love calling?
You that's been gone this many a day.
Lad of my love—do you see my tears falling?
Waiting for you in the dusk of the May.
Lad of my Heart—I have your last letter,
Ever I'll keep it held close in my breast;
For the pain deep within it seems to make better,
And the stain that's upon it my lips oft have pressed.