Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.

III. Faith: Hope: Love: Service

Soggarth Aroon

John Banim (1798–1842)

AM I the slave they say,

Soggarth aroon?

Since you did show the way,

Soggarth aroon,

Their slave no more to be,

While they would work with me

Old Ireland’s slavery,

Soggarth aroon.

Why not her poorest man,

Soggarth aroon,

Try and do all he can,

Soggarth aroon,

Her commands to fulfil

Of his own heart and will,

Side by side with you still,

Soggarth aroon?

Loyal and brave to you,

Soggarth aroon,

Yet be not slave to you,

Soggarth aroon,

Nor, out of fear to you,

Stand up so near to you—

Och! out of fear to you,

Soggarth aroon!

Who, in the winter’s night,

Soggarth aroon,

When the cold blasts did bite,

Soggarth aroon,

Came to my cabin-door,

And on my earthen-floor

Knelt by me, sick and poor,

Soggarth aroon?

Who, on the marriage day,

Soggarth aroon,

Made the poor cabin gay,

Soggarth aroon,

And did both laugh and sing,

Making our hearts to ring

At the poor christening,

Soggarth aroon?

Who, as friends only met,

Soggarth aroon,

Never did flout me yet,

Soggarth aroon;

And when my heart was dim,

Gave, while his eye did brim,

What I should give to him,

Soggarth aroon?

Och! you, and only you,

Soggarth aroon!

And for this I was true to you,

Soggarth aroon!

Our love they ’ll never shake,

When for ould Ireland’s sake

We a true part did take,

Soggarth aroon!