Thomas Moore Poems

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 Night closed around the conqueror's way, 
And lightnings show'd the distant hill, 
Where those who lost that dreadful day 
Stood few and faint, but fearless still. 
The soldier's hope, the patriot's zeal, 
For ever dimm'd, for ever crost -- 
Oh! who shall say what heroes feel, 
When all but life and honour's lost? 

The last sad hour of freedom's...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 I've oft been told by learned friars,
That wishing and the crime are one,
And Heaven punishes desires
As much as if the deed were done.

If wishing damns us, you and I
Are damned to all our heart's content;
Come, then, at least we may enjoy
Some pleasure for our punishment!...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 Come with me, and we will blow
Lots of bubbles, as we go;
Bubbles bright as ever Hope
Drew from fancy -- or from soap;
Bright as e'er the South Sea sent
from its frothy element!
Come with me, and we will blow
Lots of bubbles, as we go.
Mix the lather, Johnny W--lks,
Thou, who rhym'st so well to bilks;
Mix the lather - who can be
Fitter for...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 And doth not a meeting like this make amends 
For all the long years I've been wandering away -- 
To see thus around me my youth's early friends, 
As smiling and kind as in that happy day? 
Though haply o'er some of your brows, as o'er mine, 
The snow -- fall of time may be stealing -- what then?...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 Avenging and bright fall the swift sword of Erin
On him who the brave sons of Usna betray'd! -- 
For every fond eye he hath waken'd a tear in 
A drop from his heart-wounds shall weep o'er her blade. 

By the red cloud that hung over Conor's dark dwelling,
When Ulad's three champions lay sleeping in gore -- 
By the billows...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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Believe me, if all those endearing young charms,
   Which I gaze on so fondly today,
Were to change by tomorrow, and fleet in my arms,
   Like fairy-gifts fading away,
Thou wouldst still be adored, as this moment thou art,
   Let thy loveliness fade as it will,
And around the dear ruin each wish of my heart
 ...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 By that Lake, whose gloomy shore 
Sky-lark never warbles o'er,
Where the cliff hangs high and steep, 
Young Saint Kevin stole to sleep. 
"Here, at least," he calmly said, 
"Woman ne'er shall find my bed." 
Ah! the good Saint little knew 
What that wily sex can do. 

'Twas from Kathleen's eyes he flew -- 
Eyes of most unholy blue! 
She...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 Said Cotton to Corn, t'other day,
As they met and exchang'd salute--
(Squire Corn in his carriage so gay,
Poor Cotton, half famish'd on foot):


"Great Squire, if it isn't uncivil
To hint at starvation before you,
Look down on a poor hungry devil,
And give him some bread, I implore you!"


Quoth Corn, then, in answer to Cotton,
Perceiving he meant to make free --
"Low fellow, you've...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 Some men are born to gather women's tears,
To give a harbour to their timorous fears,
To take them as the dry earth takes the rain,
As the dark wood the warm wind from the plain;
Yet their own tears remain unshed,
Their own tumultuous fears unsaid,
And, seeming steadfast as the forest and the earth
Shaken are they with pain.
They cry for voice as earth...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 Come riddle-me-ree, come riddle-me-ree,
And tell me, what my name may be.
I am nearly one hundred and thirty years old,
And therefore no chicken, as you may suppose; --
Though a dwarf in my youth (as my nurses have told),
I have, ev'ry year since, been outgrowing my clothes;
Till, at last, such a corpulent giant I stand,
That if folks were to furnish me...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 Erin! the tear and the smile in thine eyes 
Blend like the rainbow that hangs in thy skies, 
Shining through sorrow's stream, 
Saddening through pleasure's beam, 
Thy suns with doubtful gleam, 
Weep while they rise. 

Erin, thy silent tear never shall cease, 
Erin, thy languid smile ne'er shall increase, 
Till, like the rainbow's light, 
Thy various tints unite, 
And...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 Oh! weep for the hour, 
When to Eveleen's bower, 
The Lord of the Valley with false vows came; 
The moon hid her light, 
From the heavens that night, 
And wept behind her clouds o'er the maiden's shame. 

The clouds pass'd soon 
From the chaste cold moon, 
And heaven smiled again with her vestal flame; 
But none will see the...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 Fill the bumper fair! 
Every drop we sprinkle 
O'er the brow of Care 
Smooths away a wrinkle. 
Wit's electric flame 
Ne'er so swiftly passes, 
As when through the frame 
It shoots from brimming glasses. 
Fill the bumper fair! 
Every drop we sprinkle 
O'er the brow of Care 
Smooths away a wrinkle. 

Sages can, they say, 
Grasp the lightning's pinions,...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 I saw from the beach, when the morning was shining, 
A bark o'er the waters move gloriously on; 
I came when the sun o'er that beach was declining, 
The bark was still there, but the waters were gone. 

And such is the fate of our life's early promise, 
So passing the spring-tide of joy we have known; 
Each wave...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 In the morning of life, when its cares are unknown, 
And its pleasures in all their new lustre begin, 
When we live in a bright-beaming world of our own, 
And the light that surrounds us is all from within; 
Oh 'tis not, believe me, in that happy time 
We can love, as in hours of less transport we may;...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 I've a secret to tell thee, but hush! not here -- 
Oh! not where the world its vigil keeps: 
I'll seek, to whisper it in thine ear, 
Some shore where the Spirit of Silence sleeps; 
Where Summer's wave unmurmuring dies, 
Nor fay can hear the fountain's gush; 
Where, if but a note her night-bird sighs, 
The rose saith, chidingly,...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 Oh! the days are gone, when Beauty bright 
My heart's chain wove; 
When my dream of life, from morn till night, 
Was love, still love. 
New hope may bloom, 
And days may come, 
Of milder calmer beam, 
But there's nothing half so sweet in life 
As love's young dream: 
No, there's nothing half so sweet in life 
As love's...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 Sublime was the warning that liberty spoke, 
And grand was the moment when Spaniards awoke 
Into life and revenge from the conqueror's chain. 
Oh, Liberty! let not this spirit have rest, 
Till it move, like a breeze, o'er the waves of the west -- 
Give the light of your look to each sorrowing spot, 
Nor, oh, be the Shamrock...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 There is not in the wide world a valley so sweet 
As that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet;
Oh! the last rays of feeling and life must depart, 
Ere the bloom of that valley shall fade from my heart. 

Yet it was not that nature had shed o'er the scene 
Her purest of crystal and brightest of...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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 The Minstrel-Boy to the war is gone, 
In the ranks of death you'll find him; 
His father's sword he has girded on, 
And his wild harp slung behind him. 
"Land of song!" said the warrior-bard, 
"Though all the world betrays thee, 
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard, 
One faithful harp shall praise thee!" 

The Minstrel fell! --...Read more of this...

by Moore, Thomas

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