<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">"To the Irish Dead"</h1><p class="byline">BY ESSEX EVANS </p><p class="inline-note" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">The author of these heart--touching lines is a Queenslander of Welsh derivation. Sir Herbert Warren, K. C. V. O., of the University of Oxford, had this to say of him and of the Toast: "They say that no one but an Irishman understands Ireland, that she will listen to no one but Irishman. Wales is near to her in geography and in race. I have thought she perhaps might listen to a Welsh voice, She has one today, now whispering, now ringing, across St. George's Channel. Will she heed it? Who knows?"</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">TIS a green isle set in a silver water,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">A fairy isle where the shamrock grows, </p><p class="line">Land of Legend, the Dream--Queen's daughter--</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Out of the Fairies' hands she rose.</p><p class="line">They touched her harp with a tender sighing,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">A spirit-song from a world afar,</p><p class="line">They touched her heart with a fire undying</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To fight and follow her battle-star.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Too long, too long thro' the grey years growing </p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Feud and faction have swept between</p><p class="line">The thistledown and the red rose blowing,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And the three-fold leaf of the shamrock green;</p><p class="line">But the seal of blood, ye shall break it never:</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With rifles grounded and bare of head</p><p class="line">We drink to the dead who live forever--</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">A silent toast--To the Irish dead! </p></div></body></html> · Great War