Day And Night (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)

    When the bright eyes of the day
        Open on the dusk, to see
    Mist and shadow fade away
        And the sun shine merrily,
    Then I leave my bed and run
    Out to frolic in the sun.

    Through the sunny hours I play
        Where the stream is wandering,
    Plucking daisies by the way;
        And I laugh and dance and sing,
    While the birds fly here and there
    Singing on the sunny air.

    When the night comes, cold and slow,
        And the sad moon walks the sky,
    When the whispering wind says "Boh,
        Little boy!" and makes me cry,
    By my mother I am led
    Home again and put to bed.

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

Inis Fál

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

Check (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

Blue Blood

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

The Piper (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.

Breakfast Time (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)

    The sun is always in the sky
        Whenever I get out of bed,
    And I often wonder why
        It's never late., My sister said
    She did not know who did the trick,
        And that she did not care a bit,
    And I should eat my porridge quick.
        ... I think it's mother wakens it.

James Stephens

The Cherry Tree (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)

    Come from your bed my drowsy gentleman!
        And you, fair lady, rise and braid your hair,
    And let the children wash, if wash they can;
        If not, assist you them, and make them fair
    As is the morning and the morning sky,
        And every tree and bush and bird in air.

    The sun climbed on the heights three hours ago,
        He laughed above the hills and they were glad;
    With bubbled pearl he made the rivers flow
        And laced their mists in silver, and he clad
    The meads in fragrant pomp of green and gold,
        And bade the world forget it had been sad.

    So lift yourself, good sir! and you, sweet dame,
        Unlash your evening eyes of pious grey;
    Call on the children by each loved name,
 ...

James Stephens

Song Of The Day To The Night
THE POET SINGS TO HIS POET

From dawn to dusk, and from dusk to dawn,
We two are sundered always, sweet.
A few stars shake o'er the rocky lawn
And the cold sea-shore when we meet.
The twilight comes with thy shadowy feet.

We are not day and night, my Fair,
But one. It is an hour of hours.
And thoughts that are not otherwhere
Are thought here 'mid the blown sea-flowers,
This meeting and this dusk of ours.

Delight has taken Pain to her heart,
And there is dusk and stars for these.
Oh, linger, linger! They would not part;
And the wild wind comes from over-seas
With a new song to the olive trees.

And when we meet by the sounding pine
Sleep draws near to his dreamless brother.
And when t...
Alice Christiana Thompson Meynell

Check (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)
The night was creeping on the ground;
She crept and did not make a sound
Until she reached the tree, and then
She covered it, and stole again
Along the grass beside the wall.

I heard the rustle of her shawl
As she threw blackness everywhere
Upon the sky and ground and air,
And in the room where I was hid:
But no matter what she did
To everything that was without,
She could not put my candle out.

So I stared at the night, and she
Stared back solemnly at me.
James Stephens

April Showers (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)
The leaves are fresh after the rain,
The air is cool and clear,
The sun is shining warm again,
The sparrows hopping in the lane
Are brisk and full of cheer.

And that is why we dance and play,
And that is why we sing,
Calling out in voices gay,
We will not go to school to-day
Or learn anything:

It is a happy thing, I say,
To be alive on such a day.
James Stephens