THE ARMY OF THE VOICE

OU cannot take me, ah, I will not go

Yo

To what strange turmoil would you carry me
On the strong wings of the enchanted bow?

The tides and surges of your savage sea

To my tired spirit are an agony.

Broken my wings indeed, I cannot fly,
I've lived in the low valley far too long.

My heart, turned to the sea-bird's lonesome cry,
Can give no echo to your tireless song
Voice of God's armies jubilant and strong.

To the great silences in dreams I go
Where my own mountains brood eternally,
World-old the heart I lean my heart unto:
Memories of battles won come back to me
Arming my soul for battles yet to be.

T

THE LIVING CHALICE

HE mother sent me on the Holy Quest
Timid and proud, and curiously drest,

In vestures by her hand wrought wondrously:
An eager, burning heart she gave to me.
The Bridegroom's feast was set and I drew nigh.
Master of Life, thy Cup has passed me by.

Before, new drest, I from the Mother came,
In dreams I saw the dazzling Cup of flame;
Ah, divine chalice, how my heart drank deep:
Waking, I sought the love I knew asleep.
The feast of Life was set and I drew nigh
Master of Life, thỳ Cup has passed me by.

Eyes of the Soul, awake, awake and see,
Growing within the ruby-radiant tree;
Sharp pain has wrung the clusters of my Vine:
My heart is rose red with its brimmed Wine.
Thou hast new set the feast and I draw nigh,
Master of Life, take me, thy Cup am I.

1

JAMES LYMAN MOLLOY
(1837-)

THE CLANG OF THE WOODEN SHOON

H! the clang of the wooden shoon,
Oh! the dance and the merry tune,
Happy sound of a by-gone day,

It rings in my heart for aye,

When the boats came in,

With the sailors all aglow,

And the moon shone down on the glistening tide below.

"Now my lads, with a merry will,
Up with hatch and the baskets fill,
Winsome lassies above ye stand,
Ready with eager hand;
Then the sails came down,

And all was taut and clear,

And a wild, glad dance lit up the wooden pier.

Oh! the rush of the tripping feet,

Oh! the lightsome hearts that beat;

Wild and sweet the merry tune and the clang of the

wooden shoon.

But they are gone a weary while, ah me,

And he, my own, came home no more from sea.

The sea looks black,

The waves have all a moan,

And I am left to sit and dream alone,

To sit and dream alone.

Still I see them on the pier,

All the kindly faces near,

Hear the wild and merry tune,

And the clang of the wooden shoon,

When the boats came in with the sailors all aglow, And the moon shone down on the rippling tide below.

"M

THE FIRST VOYAGE

Y little one's going to sea,
It's lonely my heart will be;
O pitiless wind,

For once be kind,

And bring him again to me."
"But mother, it's not for long,
And see, I am brave and strong;
The stars of the night

Are clear and bright,

And hark, the old Bréton song !

"The sea is great and our boat is small,
But heaven is greater than sea and all,
Ave Maria! Ave Maria!"

The little one lightly sprang

On board as the sailors sang,

And leaving the pier,

His parting cheer,

Half gayly, half sadly rang.
He looked at his mother there,
Her hands ever clasped in prayer,
While steady and strong

The old Bréton song,

Rose through the midnight air.

"The sea is great and our boat is small,
But heaven is greater than sea and all,
Ave Maria! Ave Maria!"

THE KERRY DANCE

the days of the Kerry dancing, O the ring of the piper's tune !

O for one of those hours of gladness, gone, alas! like our youth too soon;

When the boys began to gather in the glen of a sum

mer night,

And the Kerry piper's tuning made us long with wild

delight,

O to think of it, O to dream of it, fills my heart with

tears.

O the days of the Kerry dancing, O the ring of the piper's tune!

O for one of those hours of gladness, gone, alas! like our youth too soon.

Was there ever a sweeter colleen in the dance than Eily Moore?

Or a prouder lad than Thady, as he boldly took the floor?

"Lads and lasses to your places; up the middle and

down again.

Ah! the merry hearted laughter ringing through the happy glen!

O to think of it, O to dream of it, fills my heart with

tears!

O the days, etc.