The Gombeen-Man (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

    I put the sky into my pocket,
    And the sea into my locket,
    And into my breeches-band
    I put the land.

    So I was trotting off to share,
    Among my comrades in the lair,
    Our profits, when a peeler came
    And took my name.

    And now I'm in the County Gaol!
    Will anybody be my bail?
    Will anybody be my bail
    And take me from the County Gaol?

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

Eileen, Diarmuid And Teig

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

The Land Of Fál

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

The Rivals

James Stephens, Simple Poetry

In The Poppy Field

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

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

Cork Hill (The Rocky Road To Dublin)

    Come all ye happy children, and
    Gather round me hand in hand,
    Dancing to the merry cry,
    "See the Robbers Passing By."

    Past the Castle we will dance
    To the Mansion House, and prance
    Back by George's Street and cry,
    "See the Robbers Passing By."

    Gather then ye children all
    Into ranks processional,
    Marching to the merry cry,
    "See the Robbers Passing By."

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

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

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