A Visit From Abroad (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)

    A speck went blowing up against the sky
        As little as a leaf: then it drew near
    And broadened. "It's a bird," said I,
        And fetched my bow and arrows. It was queer!
    It grew up from a speck into a blot,
    And squattered past a cloud; then it flew down
    All crumply, and waggled such a lot
        I thought the thing would fall., It was a brown
    Old carpet where a man was sitting snug
        Who, when he reached the ground, began to sew
    A big hole in the middle of the rug,
        And kept on peeping everywhere to know
    Who might be coming, then he gave a twist
        And flew away....    I fired at him but missed.

James Stephens

James Stephens was an Irish novelist and poet, whose literary output includes many retellings of Irish myths and fairy tales. He was born on February 9, 1880, and passed away on December 26, 1950. Notable works include 'The Crock of Gold' and 'The Demi-Gods'. Stephens also wrote several well-regarded collections of poetry, including 'The Hill of Vision' and 'Insurrections'. His work is characterized by a blend of myth, fantasy, and modernism, capturing the spirit and culture of Ireland.

James Stephens

The Fur Coat (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

Sean O'Cosgair

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

From Hawk And Kite (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

Dunphy's Corner (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

The Horse (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)

    A sparrow hopped about the street,
        And he was not a bit afraid;
    He flew between a horse's feet,
        And ate his supper undismayed:
    I think myself the horse knew well
    The bird came for the grains that fell.

    For his eye was looking down,
        And he danced the corn about
    In his nose-bag, till the brown
        Grains of corn were tumbled out;
    And I fancy that he said,
    "Eat it up, young Speckle-Head!"

    The driver then came back again,
        He climbed into the heavy dray;
    And he tightened up the rein,
        Cracked his whip and drove away.
    But when the horse's ribs were hit,
    The sparrow did not care a bit.

James Stephens

The Turn Of The Road (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)

    I was playing with my hoop along the road
        Just where the bushes are, when, suddenly,
    There came a shout., I ran away and stowed
        Myself beneath a bush, and watched to see
    What made the noise, and then, around the bend,
        I saw a woman running.    She was old
    And wrinkle-faced, and had big teeth., The end
        Of her red shawl caught on a bush and rolled
    Right off her, and her hair fell down., Her face
        Was awful white, and both her eyes looked sick,
    And she was talking queer.    "O God of Grace!"
        Said she, "where is the child?" and flew back quick
    The way she came, and screamed, and shook her hands;
        ... Maybe she was a witch from foreign lands.

James Stephens

In The Orchard (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)

    There was a giant by the Orchard Wall
        Peeping about on this side and on that,
    And feeling in the trees: he was as tall
        As the big apple tree, and twice as fat:
    His beard was long, and bristly-black, and there
    Were leaves and bits of grass stuck in his hair.

    He held a great big club in his right hand,
        And with the other felt in every tree
    For something that he wanted.    You could stand
        Beside him and not reach up to his knee
    So mighty big he was, I feared he would
    Turn round, and trample down to where I stood.

    I tried to get away, but, as I slid
        Under a bush, he saw me, and he bent
    Far down and said, "Where is the Princess hid?"
        I pointed to a place, and off h...

James Stephens

The Apple Tree (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)

    I was hiding in the crooked apple tree,
        Scouting for Indians, when a man came;
    I thought it was an Indian, for he
        Was running like the wind., There was a flame
    Of sunlight on his hand as he drew near,
        And then I saw a knife gripped in his fist.
    He panted like a horse; his eyes were queer,
        Wide-open, staring frightfully, and, hist!
    His mouth stared open like another eye,
        And all his hair was matted down with sweat.
    I crouched among the leaves for fear he'd spy
        Where I was hiding, so he did not get
    His awful eyes on me, but like the wind
    He fled as if he heard something behind.

James Stephens

What The Snake Saw (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)

    A little girl and a big ugly man
        Went down the road.    The girl was crying
    And asking to go home, but when she ran
        He hit her on the head and sent her flying,
    And called her a young imp, and said he'd break
        Her neck unless she went with him, and then
    He smacked her on the cheek., I was a snake
        At that time crawling through a robber's den,
    And diamonds were sticking to my tongue,
        (That's the best dodge), but when I saw the way
    He beat the little girl I up and flung
        A stone at him.    My aim was bad that day
    Because I hit the girl ... and she did sing!
    But he jumped round and cursed like anything.

James Stephens

Behind The Hill (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)

    Behind the hill I met a man in green
        Who asked me if my mother had gone out?
    I said she had.    He asked me had I seen
        His castle where the people sing and shout
    From dawn to dark, and told me that he had
        A crock of gold inside a hollow tree,
    And I could have it., I wanted money bad
        To buy a sword with, and I thought that he
    Would keep his solemn word; so, off we went.
        He said he had a pound hid in the crock,
    And owned the castle too, and paid no rent
        To any one, and that you had to knock
    Five hundred times.    I asked, "Who reckoned up?"
    And he said, "You insulting little pup!"

James Stephens