New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-27
THE WALLS or LONDONDERRY.

TTOW THO TCf1p1VlVH.
HOW softly smiles the moon tonight,
Along the walls of Londonderry
tleI silver lamp Is weirdly bright,
ana Kings flame Of gOd-and-white
All DER The town of Londonderry.
a roDe OF CLEAN aud shadow trails
through all the city hills and wales;
from roof 10 roof and spire to spire,
1t chambers, like the ghost of Fire.
outside steel-hued river cleayes
ne meadows, fresh of summer leaves:
Ana thrusts, with motion wide and free
flashing sabre at the sea.
AboYe WHIT e-tingered cloudlets play
ne sh0rt-liyed song of night away;
Vh, an as sweet aud still has grown
As II red blood had never flown
Beneath the walls of Londonderry
Ghosts walk in troops with me tonight,
,, Upon the walls of Londonderry;
They minge in the CHASTITY light,
Ana turn their proud but weary sight
Back 20 the siege Of Londonderry.
Two thousand fsmished, whose heart-cres
Went unavailing TO the skies
Men, led with courage day by day,
While still their bodies shrunk away;
Women, whose eyes grew sternly bright,
Though yet their sweet cheeks paed with fright
Wan chidren-huuger choked their cry
Who lived and died-they knew not why;
These all, with sOrrOw-ladcn breath,
TASTED 10 serve the feast of Death;
These all, whose bones clasDed by thee,
Look up with pain-ploughed face at me.
blood-bought walls Of Londonderry!
a column rises proud and high
Above the walls Of Londonderry;
II brings each day the past more nigh
It speaks of men who neor shall die
Because they died for Londonderry.
II tells the story Time has taught
That future fame is dearly bought;
That he who after death would live,
His earth-life To the world must give;
That he whose memory from aiar
Would pierce deaths darkness ike star,
Must rear alOft, for human needs,
A telescope of glorious deeds.
1t bids al noblcness rejoice
That bravery, dead vet hath voice;
1t lights up many an honorcd name,
THIS eXclamation-pOint of fame
This DlOod-built shaft OF Londonderry!
But look! What feebly comes this way,
Along the walls of Londonderry
II Is no ghost that bids me stay
Ii is a woman old and gray,
From Oui the town of Londonderry
Rags fringe that form-the feet are bare.
And suOw-llakcs drift across her hair;
The cheek l. sewed with sorrow-seamS--
The eye with iIungcr's watchhre CLEANS.
She creeps 10 me. with hating tread,
Aud humbly begs bit of bread!
She tells. with crushed and patient face.
The woe-tales Ofa conquered race.
oh. not alon" on bristling wall.
The shock and surge OF sIcgcS fall!
Here means starving wretch unicd,
A. sure ~ did thy honorcd dead,
Grim, hcartless walls of Londonderry!
How softly smiles the moon tonight
Along the walls of Londonderry
War i not here in savage might,
But Hunger casts his murder-blight
Within the walls of Londonderry,
Though tranquil float the flag of peace,
Wars silent work will never cease.
Wherc'er a hearth5tone fire IS lit,
With roofs of home 10 shelter It,
Wherever sweet domestic grace
Has found fair abidlng-place,
That castle fierce Destruction storms
In all his varied, yengetul forms;
And he who peaceful light has made,
For those who iean on him for aid.
AS bright rs men more carth-renOwncd,
In Co.'s unerrlng eye il crowned:
Thou teachest this, Londonderry!
w. CARLETON.