Poems (Tynan)/The Red Deer

by Katharine Tynan

THE RED DEER

AT KILLARNEY

There are lords of the forest,
 And lords of the glen,
And lords of the waters,
 And lords over men.
The birds of the blue air,
 The fish of the mere,
All, all have their masters
 Except the red deer.

From the heights of the mountain
 Where no man shall tread,
Where in furze and in bracken
 The deer hath his bed,
He will swim the fair waters,
 From heaven to heaven;
He is this man's at morning,
 And that man's at even.

No! free as the west wind
 That comes from the ocean
And tosses the bright woods
 And waves to commotion—
No! free as the stars are,
 The sun 's not more free:
He is free as the waters
 Escaped to the sea.

All ye who would claim him,
 Be silent at last!
Ye are gone like the bright leaves
 Blown high on the blast.
With your castles and abbeys,
 Through time he remaineth
The red deer of freedom
 Whom no man enchaineth.