Page:The Complete Poems of Francis Ledwidge, 1919.djvu/81

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THE DEATH OF AILILL
75

We walked apart like two who were estranged
Because I loved you not, now all is changed."
And he who loved her always called her name
And said: 'You do not love me, 'tis your tongue
Talks in the dusk; you love the blazing gold
Won in the battles, and the soldier's fame.
You love the stories that are often told
By poets in the hall." Then Maeve arose
And sought her daughter Findebar: "O, child,
Go tell your father that my love went wild
With all my wars in youth, and say that now
I love him stronger than I hate my foes...."
And Findebar unto her father sped
And touched him gently on the rugged brow,
And knew by the cold touch that he was dead.