| Padraic Colum (1881–1972). Anthology of Irish Verse. 1922. |
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| 44. The Wearin’ o’ the Green |
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| By Anonymous |
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| OH, Paddy dear! and did ye hear the news that’s goin’ round? | |
| The shamrock is forbid by law to grow on Irish ground! | |
| No more St. Patrick’s day we’ll keep; his colour can’t be seen, | |
| For there’s a cruel law ag’in’ the Wearin’ o’ the Green! | |
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| I met with Napper Tandy, and he took me by the hand, | 5 |
| And he said, “How’s poor ould Ireland, and how does she stand?” | |
| “She’s the most distressful country that ever yet was seen, | |
| For they’re hanging men and women there for the Wearin’ o’ the Green. | |
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| An’ if the colour we must wear is England’s cruel red, | |
| Let it remind us of the blood that Ireland has shed; | 10 |
| Then pull the shamrock from your hat, and throw it on the sod, | |
| An’ never fear, ’twill take root there, though under foot ’tis trod. | |
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| When law can stop the blades of grass from growin’ as they grow, | |
| An’ when the leaves in summer time their colour dare not show, | |
| Then I will change the colour, too, I wear in my caubeen; | 15 |
| But till that day, plaise God, I’ll stick to the Wearin’ o’ the Green. | |
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