Ballads of Peace in War

<h2> TWO SEANICHIES </h2> <p>(For Aedh)<br/></p> <p>'Tis the queerest trade we have, the two of us that go about,<br/> I that do the talkin', and the little lad that sings,<br/> We to tell the story of a Land you ought to know about,&mdash;<br/> The wonder land of Erin and the memories it brings.<br/> <br/> Sure it is a wonder land, richer than the books it is,<br/> Full of magic stories and a hopeful heart of song;<br/> Faith, and near the mountains and the sunny lakes and brooks it is,<br/> Like the olden seanichies, the pair of us belong.<br/> <br/> Far and broad our journeyin', up and down the land we go,<br/> Today among the mountains and tomorrow by the sea;<br/> Pleasant are the roads with us, and to a welcome grand we go,<br/> Erin wins the heart of you, whoever you may be.<br/> <br/> Erin's heart will capture you, if you will but listen now,<br/> Great she was afore the Danes and all her Saxon foes,<br/> After that the sorrows came, sure your eyes will glisten now,<br/> Up, my lad, and sing for them "The Dark Little Rose."<br/> <br/> Rest awhile and I will tell the fame of Tara's Hall to them,<br/> All the deeds of valor and a thousand scenes of joy,<br/> Wicklow hills and Derry fields where Killarney calls to them.<br/> Come, my lad, it's Ninety-Eight and sing "The Croppy Boy."<br/> <br/> Long ago the stranger came and learned to love the ways of her,<br/> Irish more than Irish the Norman foe became;<br/> Sure and here across the sea you give your hearts to praise of her,<br/> The tear and smile within her eyes that ever are the same.<br/> <br/> Not for gold or little fame the two of us to go about,<br/> I that do the talkin', and the little lad that sings,<br/> We to win your love for her, the Land you're glad to know about,<br/> The wonder land of Erin and the memories it brings.<br/></p> <p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0038" id="link2H_4_0038"></SPAN></p> <br/> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />