Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 98, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1915 — SHAMROCKS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SHAMROCKS

You buy a pot 0’ shamrocks—you like them for their green An’ for their pleasant friendliness—but know not what they mean! What can you know of shamrocks, you who feel not the thrill They bring of Shannon's murmurs past flowered field and hill? You buy a pot of shamrocks, and back at them you smile— Ah, could you know and feel that they are part of Erin’s isle! You have not eyes that see things, or you would see the mist That runs across Killamey when morning’s brow is kissed; You have not ears that hear things, or you would hear the song Made of a thousand memories forever sweet an’ strong—’Tis but a pot o’ shamrocks, a whimsy thing you buy, An’ not a bit of Irish sod or breadth of Irish sky! The glint of Irish sunshine makes all that livin’ green, An’ Irish rains kept off the stains an’ gave that jewel-sheen; Would that you understood it! For could you understand, There’d be a bit of tremblin’ each time they touched your hand! Your fingers would be tremblin’, your eyes be dewy-wet. Your heart wotrid beat a measure you never, could forget You buy a pot o’ shamrocks, an’ know not what they mean! You set them on the table to see their cheerin’ green— But should you trample on them they’d rise in grace again, Just as the hopes rise in the hearts of women and of men. Smile friendly at your shamrocks, an* back at you they smile— Ah, could you know an’ feel that they are part of Erin’s isle! WILBUR D. NESBIT. Copyright, 1913.

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