Stephen's Green (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

    The wind stood up and gave a shout;
        He whistled on his fingers, and
    Kicked the withered leaves about
        And thumped the branches with his hand,
    And said he'd kill, and kill, and kill,
    And so he will, and so he will.

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

Sweet-Apple

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

Dunphy's Corner (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

The Fur Coat (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

The Weavers

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.

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

Merrion Square (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

    Grey clouds on the tinted sky,
    A drifting moon, a quiet breeze
    Drooping mournfully to cry
    In the branches of the trees.

    The crying wind, the sighing trees,
    The ruffled stars, the darkness falling
    Down the sky, and on the breeze
    A belated linnet calling.

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

The College Of Surgeons (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

    As I stood at the door
        Sheltered out of the wind,
    Something flew in
        Which I hardly could find.

    In the dim, gloomy doorway
        I searched till I found
    A dry withered leaf
        Lying down on the ground.

    With thin, pointed claws
        And a dry dusty skin,,
    Sure a hall is no place
        For a leaf to be in!

    Oh where is your tree,
        And your summer and all,
    Poor dusty leaf
        Whistled into a hall?

James Stephens

College Green (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

    When you meet an ancient man,
    Be as silent as you can;
    So when old age comes to you,
    Courtesies shall gather too.

    And King Billy's horse will start
    From our street and from our heart,
    When each Irishman shall be
    Perfected in courtesy.

James Stephens

Katty Gollagher (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

    The hill is bare: I only find
        The grass, the sky, and one small tree
    Tossing wildly on the wind;
        And that is all there is to see:
    A tree, a hill, a wind, a sky
    Where nothing ever passes by.

James Stephens