Verse > Padraic Colum > Anthology of Irish Verse
76. Killarney
By William Larminie
IS there one desires to hear
If within the shores of Eire
Eyes may still behold the scene
Far from Fand’s enticements?
Let him seek the southern hills        5
And those lakes of loveliest water
Where the richest blooms of Spring
Burn to reddest Autumn:
And the clearest echo sings
Notes a goddess taught her.        10
Ah! ’t was very long ago,
And the words are now denied her:
But the purple hillsides know
Still the tones delightsome,
And their breasts, impassioned, glow        15
As were Fand beside them.
And though many an isle be fair,
Fairer still is Innisfallen,
Since the hour Cuchullain lay
In the bower enchanted.        20
See! the ash that waves to-day.
Fand its grandsire planted.
When from wave to mountain-top
All delight thy sense bewilders,
Thou shalt own the wonders wrought        25
Once by her skilled fingers,
Still, though many an age be gone,
Round Killarney lingers.
These verse make the epilogue to a long poem called “Fand” which is based on the story of the love of Fand, the Sea-god’s wife, for Cuchullain and the jealousy of Cuchullain’s wife, Emer. William Larminie, the poet of “Fand,” had certain theories of English verse which might form a doctrine for the free verse poets of to-day. He considered that free verse might gain by an association with the Irish system of assonance. The “Epilogue to Fand” is an interesting experiment—the poet achieves beautiful music in it through the use of assonance.

