The Tricolour: Poems of the Irish Revolution E-Book

Dora Sigerson Shorter

• Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

In "The Tricolour: Poems of the Irish Revolution," Dora Sigerson Shorter captures the tumultuous spirit of Ireland during a pivotal historical period, infusing her verses with elements of nationalism, passion, and deep introspection. This collection is a sophisticated amalgamation of lyrical beauty and social critique, employing vivid imagery and evocative language to reflect the sentiments of a nation yearning for independence. Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century Ireland, Shorter's poetry resonates with the fervor of the revolutionary movement, merging personal emotions with broader cultural currents, thus positioning her work within the rich tapestry of Irish literary tradition at a time of great upheaval. Dora Sigerson Shorter, an influential poet and advocate for women's rights, emerged from a literary milieu that was deeply engaged with the themes of nationalism and identity. Her own experiences as a woman in a male-dominated society fueled her passion for social justice and equity, imbuing her work with a unique perspective that challenges and enriches contemporary understandings of Irish literature. Sigerson's contributions extend beyond her poetry; she was an active participant in the cultural revival of her time, making her an essential voice in the conversation about Ireland's future. Readers seeking a profound exploration of the Irish revolutionary spirit will find Shorter's "The Tricolour" indispensable. This collection not only illuminates the emotional landscape of a nation in turmoil but also offers timeless reflections on the quest for freedom and identity. For those interested in the intersection of poetry and political consciousness, Sigerson's work is a captivating invitation to engage with the struggles and aspirations that defined a generation.

Leseprobe

Dora Sigerson Shorter

The Tricolour: Poems of the Irish Revolution

Published by Good Press, 2022

[email protected]

EAN 4064066077198

Table of Contents

The Tricolour

The Sacred Fire

Sixteen Dead Men

Conscription

Sick I Am and Sorrowful

In the Years of Sarsfield

A Catholic to His Ulster Brother

They Did Not See Thy Face

The Wild Beast

The Wild Geese

The Queen

The Choice

The Old Song

The Young Volunteer

The Tree Uprooted

The Wreath: Easter, 1917

The Prisoner

Ourselves Alone

Kathleen's Lover

The Foe

Empire Building

Loud Shout the Flaming Tongues of War

The Hill-Side Men

The Star

“Telling The Bees”

Kittie's Toys

The Story without End

The Dead Soldier

The Tricolour

Table of Contents

THE TRICOLOUR

Table of Contents

I

About this time there was let loose a great tumult in the city. Fire and battle held Dublin for about a week, and then from out of it all, above the crash of falling houses and the roar of guns, over the crackling flames rose the tricolour, and for a few mad days it shone into the hearts of the people.

And then a wounded prisoner of war, by the name of James Connolly, was slain, and so was disbanded the wonderful Citizen Army which had arisen from the awful conditions of bad housing and miserable wages so prevalent in Ireland.

So Labour was shot down because it dared to be discontented with its fortunes.

At the same time Pearse, the idealist, surrendered to superior forces to save his countrymen.

​And Idealism was shot down because it dared to dream greater dreams than were allowed to small nationalities.

On Easter Monday Sheehy-Skeffington, the pacifist, was murdered secretly and without trial. Thus Peace was shot down by a lunatic, because it got in the way of militarism.

So the bright flag fell from the high place where it had floated free. Yet what a tricolour were these three—Labour, Idealism, and Pacifism—how proudly it flew, so distinct in its colours, so perfect in its union, preaching its lesson for Easter to the people! At Easter, the time of Resurrection, not of Death. Yet out of Death comes Resurrection. Who will take it upon himself to crucify Labour, since Christ was the Son of a carpenter; Idealism, for Christ was an idealist; Peace, for did not Christ our Lord say “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God”?

II

Out of poverty and misery from some dark corner of the slums she had hurried at the ​sound of the shooting—the old woman who had no place in the revolution—where the young, the hopeful, the idealists were fighting. What could she do then, this weak and trembling old creature, this Sean-Bhean Bhocht, useless, and in the way in the gun-swept streets of the blazing city?

What did she deem her mission in the fighting world of soldiers? What could she teach?

She was seen kneeling in the danger zone saying her rosary. What was she praying for at such a moment? Was it for herself or for someone dear to her? Listen, and I will tell you why she hurried her black beads through her fingers for fear God would not give her time to finish. Great was her prayer. She prayed for the success of the revolution.

Think of it, meditate on this sacred prayer, for here is the spirit of Ireland. This is the spirit of patriotism—the love that survives all things.

Without hope of gain, without hope of honour, without love of life, without fear of death, who mourned for nobody, for whom nobody would mourn, she knelt in the streets in the danger zone and prayed for the success of the revolution.