At dawn, they left the gates of Malahide,
their horses snorting in the early morning mist--
fourteen Talbot men, their country's pride.
Earlier, in the echoing dining hall,
they'd raised a toast to James, their Catholic king,
and prayed for Dutchman Billy's quick downfall.
Old English, and Catholic to the core,
they'd sworn allegiance to the cause of Royal James,
and vowed the Boyne they'd fill with foreign gore.
Ancestral faces from the wall gazed down
in stern approval at the gathered throng;
ancient Talbots, portraits stained and brown,
their former glories dimmed by age and time,
seemed to nod and whisper to themselves,
as if their fortunes now once more would climb.
The time had come to purge the recent past
of memories too painful to recall,
and lay the ghost of Cromwell's curse at last.
Across the plains of Royal Meath they flowed,
like ripples in a field of waving corn,
their battle-pennants streaming as they rode.
Alas, they were to pay a terrible cost;
for Cromwell's curse was not the only one,
and at the mossy Boyne their cause was lost.
Fourteen Talbot men, their country's light,
had broken bread that morning in the hall--
not one came back again to dine that night.
The funeral bells toll out for those who died,
as, silent now, the earth lies hushed with grief,
and darkest night descends on Malahide.
Author notes
This will probably be obscure to most American readers
(and some British ones as well), but the poem refers to an aristocratic Anglo-Norman family, the Talbots, of Malahide Castle near Dublin, who fought on the Irish side at the Battle of the Boyne (an Irish river) for King James against King William of Orange in 1690. That battle, which William won, was about the succession to the English throne, even though it was fought on Irish soil, and the outcome sealed the fate of Catholic and nationalist Ireland for the next couple of hundred years.
The events in the poem are true--fourteen Talbot men, brothers, cousins, etc, were slain in the conflict.
A contest entry
- Write me a Poem about History {{Editted to Allow Pre-Writes}} by SpydurPoet.
705 points, ended August 19, 2007, 27 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Make History by Meet Virginia.
550 points, ended January 14, 2008, 12 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
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Amazing writing. Vivid imagery and incredible rhythm, and none of the story is lost. I also love how you set it up to be a victory, and ended it with disappointment- it really magnifies the effect. Fantastic work!
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A very familiar story to me and just most excellently portrayed! I am descended from William. Your brought this alive and one could hear the horses hooves beating time to the drums. Very well-done!
Wolfie
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Congratulations on this one ...
I'm not sure at what point I missed reading & reviewing it and sometimes my favorites get overwhelming! Although I didn't know the history ... your fine poem enlightened me and read better than any dang olde book! Very nice work and once again, congrats for this winner! joy
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Bill, me old cocker, you never cease to amaze me. You write with such intelligence and skill, there's far too many great moments to mention here, absolutely fantastic,
good luck in the contest, matey,
Alex.
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This had all the beautiful makings of an epic poem. I loved the inclusion of rhyme in this poem. The last line was indeed a powerful ending. You did an excellent job. Thanks for entering.
Write on.
~*~SP~*~
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