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 he went,
    But while he searched I turned and simply flew
    Round by the lilac bushes back to you.

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 Lonely God

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

The Wood Of Flowers (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

Midnight (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

The Devil's Bag (The Adventures Of Seumas Beg)

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 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

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

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

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

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

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