Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Ireland: Vol. V. 1876–79.
Song of Innisfail
By Thomas Moore (1779–1852)T
And now o’er the western main
Set sail, in their good ships, gallantly,
From the sunny land of Spain.
“O, where ’s the Isle we ’ve seen in dreams,
Our destined home or grave?”
Thus sung they as, by the morning’s beams,
They swept the Atlantic wave.
A sparkle of radiant green,
As though in that deep lay emerald mines,
Whose light through the wave was seen.
“’T is Innisfail,—’t is Innisfail!”
Rings o’er the echoing sea;
While, bending to heaven, the warriors hail
That home of the brave and free.
Where now their Day-God’s eye
A look of such sunny omen gave
As lighted up sea and sky.
Nor frown was seen through sky or sea,
Nor tear o’er leaf or sod,
When first on their Isle of Destiny
Our great forefathers trod.