<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Menace</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Oh</span>, when the land is white as milk</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With bloom that lets no leaf between,</p><p class="line">When trees are clad in grass-green silk</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And thrushes sing in a gold screen:</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">What is it ails Dark Rosaleen?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Why is the banshee in the night</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Crying for all the young men gone?</p><p class="line">Now when the world with bloom is white,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">When the good sun's warm on the stone,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Why does the Woman of Death make moan?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">As one who is not comforted,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">I heard in every lonely glen</p><p class="line">Dark Rosaleen cry for her dead</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And for her dying race of men.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Dark Rosaleen, take heart again!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">For, oh, there's God in His high place</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And Patrick seated by His side</p><p class="line">To judge with Him the Irish race;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And Columcille, Kieran and Bride</p><p class="line">Shall not forget before God's Face.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">There's Mary of the Seven Swords,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Queen of the Gael -- oh, many a saint,</p><p class="line">With Oliver Plunkett to look towards</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The Mercy Seat, with praise and plaint,</p><p class="line">For Rosaleen, ever the Lord's.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Oh, weep no more, Dark Rosaleen!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Menace and terror pass you by.</p><p class="line">Oh, loved beyond the sceptred queen,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Dark Rosaleen for whom men die!</p><p class="line">And loved till death, Dark Rosaleen.</p></div></body></html> · Great War