The College Of Science (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

    Who knows a thing and will not tell
    Shall spend eternity in hell;
    But he who learns and teaches free
    In heaven spends eternity.

    Around the Leinster Lawn we go
    Into Molesworth Street, and so
    To Saint Stephen's Green, where we
    Hang a banner on a tree.

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

York Street (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

Mistress Quiet-Eyes

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

Sweet-Apple

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

Mary Hynes

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 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

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

The Dodder Bank (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

    When no flower is nigh, you might
    Spy a weed with deep delight;
    So, when far from saints and bliss,
    God might give a sin a kiss.

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

Donnelly's Orchard (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

    He who locks a gate doth close
    Pity's heart against his woes;
    But who opens one shall find
    God is standing just behind.

James Stephens