Custom House Quay (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

    When a Dublin man shall say,
    "Give me a little bread, I pray,"
    If you do not give him bread
    You will be hungry when he is fed.

    And let no priest or magistrate
    Scowl upon the poor man's plate,
    Asking him the question sly
    To which no one can reply.

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 Horse (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

The Fur Coat (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

The Gang

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.

York Street (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

    If in winter you shall drive
    Birds from crumbs, you shall not thrive;
    But if you feed them, they will fly
    To sing it sweetly on the sky.

    So throw up the window, and
    Scatter with a lavish hand,
    Taking care you do not spill
    Flower-pots from the window-sill,

    Singing, "Ireland shall be free
    From the centre to the sea";
    Singing bravely once again,
    "We are Dan O'Connell's Men."

James Stephens

At The Fair (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

    The lark shall never come to say
    To a gombeen-man, "Good day,"
    And the lark shall never cry
    To a kindly man, "Good-bye."

    See the greedy gombeen-man
    Taking everything he can
    From man and woman, dog and cat,
    And the lark does not like that.

James Stephens

Dublin Men (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

    A Dublin man will frown when he
    Hears a tale of villainy;
    But when a kindness you relate,
    He swings and whistles on the gate.

James Stephens

Dunphy's Corner (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

    Pacing slowly down the road
    Black horses go, with load on load
    Of Dublin people dead, and they
    Will be covered up in clay.

    Ere their friends go home, each man
    Will shake his head, and drain a can
    To Dublin people we will meet
    Not again in Grafton Street.

James Stephens

Grafton Street (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

    At four o'clock, in dainty talk,
    Lords and lovely ladies walk,
    With a gentle dignity,
    From the Green to Trinity.

    And at five o'clock they take,
    In a Café, tea and cake,
    Then they call a carriage, and
    Drive back into fairyland.

James Stephens

Beresford Place (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

    The man who has and does not give
    Shall break his neck, and cease to live;
    But he who gives without a care
    Shall gather rubies from the air.

James Stephens