-Twas Eight-Hour Day, and proudly
Old Labour led the way;
The drums were bearing loudly,
The crowded streets were gay;
But something touched my heart like pain,
I could not check the sigh
That rose within my bosom when
The Irish Flag went by.
Bright flags were raised about it
And one of them my own:
And patriots trod beneath it-
But it seemed all alone.
I thought of ruined Ireland
While crystals from the sky
Fell soft like tears by angels shed,
As the Irish Flag went by.
I love the dark green standard
As Irish patriots do;
It waves above the rebels,
And I-m a rebel too,
I thought of Ireland-s darkest years,
Her griefs that follow fast;
For drooping as -twere drenched with tears
The Irish Flag went past.
And though -twas not in Erin
That my forefathers trod;
And though my wandering footsteps
Ne-er pressed the -dear old sodâ?,
I felt the wrongs the Irish feel
Beneath the northern sky.
And felt the rebel in my heart
When the Irish Flag went by.
I tell you, men of England,
Who rule the land by might;
I tell you, Irish traitors
Who sell the sons of light,
The tyranny shall fail at last,
That changeful days are nigh;
And you shall dip your red flag yet,
When the Irish Flag goes by.
When The Irish Flag Went By
Henry Lawson
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Poem topics: I love you, alone, dark, feel, green, light, pain, red, rose, dear, fast, bright, soft, labour, follow, Valentine's Day, heart, love, sky, thought, Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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