Poems for Catholics Author:M. A. Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: AN APPEAL. TO THE IRISH MILITARY COMPANIES OF NEW YORK IN REHALF OF THE DESTITUTE IRISH CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT ORPHANS, AND FOR WHOM AS YET THERE IS NO CATH... more »OLIC ASYLUM. The Green Flag proudly floating Free in the foreign air, By Irish hands uplifted, And borne exultant there! The Green Flag that our fathers Have wrapped them in to die, E'er sell their faith or freedom Beneath their native sky. How gallantly, how fearlessly, Their sons look here to day; The exile's heart is raptured To see their proud array. Homeward their thoughts are sweeping, The old Green Land appears, Wild sea-sought Connemara, t And Wicklow's "Golden Spears. "J But passion fiercely rises For over all the land, Alas! they see in spirit The prison poor-house stand. Written before either the Protectory or St. Joseph's Industrial School was built. t Connemara signifies, according to some, " The home of the sea." I Mountains so called from their form and from the quantity of yellow blossomed furze with which they are covered. Then gallantly and fearlessly They lift the Green Flag high, And feel as if for Erin They gloriously could die. Though now with hearts elated, They breathe fair freedom's air, And fealty true and earnest To their new land they swear: "America and Freedom Our 'homes and altars free,' Our children, sons and daughters, We dedicate to thee." Yet mournfully, how mournfully Their voices falter now, For many Irish children 'Neath sorrow's burden bow. For many fair young children Of Irish birth or blood, Are borne away to ruin On misery's fatal flood; Are taught to hate their country, To curse their fathers' creed, To think their names dish...« less