Canada and Other Poems/St. Patrick's Day
ST. PATRICK'S DAY.
The chilly days of March are here,The raw, cold winds are blowing;All nature now, is bleak and drear,But piercing winds and frosts are going.
But frosts nor snows, nor biting blast,Can chill the warmth within each heart,When comes around the day at last,To sainted mem'ry set apart.
For many centuries thy name,St. Patrick, has been warmly bless'd,And many more thy righteous fameShall animate each Christian breast.
Each Christian, and each patriot, too,Shall celebrate for years, the day,And show the worid that they are trueTo virtuous worth, long pass'd away.
Oh, Ireland! for many yearsUnhappy thou hast been, and sore,But long, we're thankful thro' our tears,Sweet songs have sounded from thy shore.
While other lands in bitter strifeFought wildly for kingship or gold,The words of peace, the way of life,Within fair Ireland were told.
The Druid priests their rites forbore,And listen'd to the words that fellFrom Patrick's pious lips, as o'erThe land he told his story well.
His lips told of the way of life;His self-denying actions, too,Enforc'd the truth, where all was rifeWith wrongful rites of darken'd hue.
The people listen'd to his voice,And learn'd to love the faith he taught;When fruits arose in after years,They bless'd the name of him who wrought.
Who wrought successfully to placeReligion's light within the land—A benefit to all his race,At home, or on a foreign strand.
Religion's light shone clear and bright,And then the lesser lights appear'd;Learning arose with quiet might,And simple minds it rais'd and cheer'd.
Old Tara's heathen temple rungWith sounds, whose waves are rolling yet,From which unmeasured good has sprung,Which grateful hearts will not forget.
The triple leaf—St. Patrick's flow'r—Long may it grow, long may it bearThose symbols of the mighty Pow'r,That rules the sea, the earth, the air.
The Shamrock! may our hearts entwine,And meet in one, as it, tho' three;And may your patron Saint, and mine,Our patron saint forever be.