<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">A Familiar Epistle <br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/>To Dr. Oliver Gogarty of Dublin <br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/>(Written in Scotland at Yuletide)</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">OLIVER GOGARTY me boy,</p><p class="line">While trumpets sound and troops deploy,</p><p class="line">Our once cool Castaly the Kaiser</p><p class="line">Transforms into a very Geyser,</p><p class="line">And overhung with war-cloud pluvious,</p><p class="line">Parnassus' peaks outflame Vesuvius.</p><p class="line">But more than peaceful is the line</p><p class="line">I pen to you across the brine;</p><p class="line">This somewhat overdue epistle,</p><p class="line">Writ in the Kingdom of the Thistle,</p><p class="line">To speed at daybreak, west by south,</p><p class="line">From lean Loch Ryan's snarling mouth,</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">To Shamrock-land that gave ye birth—</p><p class="line">The least "disthressful" land on earth.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Three Olivers before your time</p><p class="line">Were not unknown in prose and rhyme.</p><p class="line">One was the paladin—or pal—</p><p class="line">Of him who fought at Roncesvalles,</p><p class="line">And one gave Drogheda to pillage,</p><p class="line">And one wrote "The Deserted Village";</p><p class="line">But sorra an Oliver ever seen</p><p class="line">Compares with him of Stephen's Green,</p><p class="line">And from this frosty, fiery North</p><p class="line">I hail you Oliver the Fourth.</p><p class="line">How goes it yonder? Very soon</p><p class="line">St. Patrick's bell will toll Night's noon,</p><p class="line">And a convivial Dublin moon</p><p class="line">Be gazing down with bibulous leer</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">On Trinity's façade severe.</p><p class="line">But ere I sleep, one wakeful word</p><p class="line">Clamours to be no more deferred</p><p class="line">When, when, I pray you, shall we twain</p><p class="line">Forgather to discourse again</p><p class="line">Of things the world holds cheap, and we</p><p class="line">Rate above rubies? If the sea</p><p class="line">And sky in their most iron mood</p><p class="line">Daunt not at all your hardihood,</p><p class="line">What of adventuring hither, while</p><p class="line">Throughout this blanched and shivering isle</p><p class="line">The Heav'ns grip fast as in a vice</p><p class="line">The Earth's hands manacled with ice,</p><p class="line">And drop not even a frozen tear</p><p class="line">On the cold deathbed of the Year?</p><p class="line">Our talk shall not be all of trenches,</p><p class="line">Falkenhayn's strategy, or French's</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Rather of matters built to abide</p><p class="line">When the last din of war has died;</p><p class="line">Art, Thought, and Song—the unageing themes—</p><p class="line">And those sole verities, our dreams.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But come or not, whichever suit you,</p><p class="line">The Muse shall cordially salute you,</p><p class="line">For Irishman with heart more true</p><p class="line">Ne'er claimed descent from Brian Borru,</p><p class="line">(Which sons of Erin mostly do)—</p><p class="line">Nor ever in the days of old,</p><p class="line">When Malachy wore the collar of gold,</p><p class="line">Or Ulster parried Munster's blows</p><p class="line">While Leinster pummelled Connaught's nose,</p><p class="line">Lived the full life of feast and fast,</p><p class="line">And found it goodly to the last.</p><p class="line">Thus vows, with attestation fervent,</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Your faithful friend—a fellow servant</p><p class="line">Of those nine Ladies of the Height,</p><p class="line">Who, with large promises, invite</p><p class="line">Their lovers to their bower above,</p><p class="line">And make a football of our love,</p><p class="line">Toy with the troth that never wavers,</p><p class="line">And sell so dear their fatal favours.</p></div></body></html> · Great War