It was down by the banks of a clear flowing stream
That first I accosted that comely young game
And in great confusion I asked her her name
Are you Ora or Flora or the famed Queen of Tyre
She answered I’m neither, I’m Síle Dwyer
Go rhyming rogue, let your flocks roam in peace
You won’t find among them that famed golden fleece
The tresses of Helen, that Goddess of Greece
Have harked round your heart in a web of desire
Be off to your Speir-Bhean, said Síle Dwyer
May the sufferings of Sisyphus fall to my share
And may I the sufferings of Tantalus fear
To the dark land of Hades may my soul fall in air
Without linnet in song or an ode on the lyre
If I ever prove false to you Síle Dwyer
Oh had I the wealth of the Orient store
All the gems of Peru and the Mexican Ore
Or the hand of a Midas to mould o’er and o’er
Bright bracelets of gold and of flaming sapphire
I would robe you in splendour, my Síle Dwyer
And yes, this is a genuine old ballad that coincidentally shares my wife’s name.
I am not certain whether the Síle in question was an actual inamorata of the poet or, like Roisín Dubh a personification of Ireland
I came across it six years ago.blogged it then and give it to you again today
.
Comments
Peter
on April 4, 2012Just a slight rewrite, to match today’s blog to yesterday’s – if you’ll permit.
Síle Ronayne
It was down by the banks of a clear flowing stream
That first I accosted that comely young game
And in great confusion I asked her her name
Are you Ora or Flora or the lovely Elaine
She answered I’m neither, I’m Síle Ronayne.
Go rhyming rogue, let your flocks roam in peace
You won’t find among them that famed golden fleece
The tresses of Helen, that Goddess of Greece
Have harked round your heart in a beautiful mane
Be off to your Speir-Bhean, said Síle Ronayne
May the sufferings of Sisyphus fall to my share
And may I the sufferings of Tantalus fear
To the dark land of Hades may my soul fall in air
Without linnet in song or a rhyming quinzain
If I ever prove false to you Síle Ronayne
Oh had I the wealth of the Orient store
All the gems of Peru and the Mexican Ore
Or the hand of a Midas to mould o’er and o’er
Bright bracelets of gold and jewels on a chain
I would robe you in splendour, my Síle Ronayne
sile
on April 4, 2012Thanks to Martin and also Peter for the two versions. One for the mature me and the other for my comely younger self.
Martin
on April 4, 2012Without linnet in song or a rhyming quinzain
If I ever prove false to you Síle Ronayne
That stanza alone proves that you Monsieur Denman are a real poet.
Merci.
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