Poems (Tynan)/The Red Deer
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.