UNDER THE ROUND TOWER
 
 "ALTHOUGH I'd lie lapped up in linen
 A deal I'd sweat and little earn
 If I should live as live the neighbours,'
 Cried the beggar, Billy Byrne;
 "Stretch bones till the daylight come
 On great-grandfather's battered tomb.'
 Upon a grey old battered tombstone
 In Glendalough beside the stream
 Where the O'Byrnes and Byrnes are buried,
 He stretched his bones and fell in a dream
 Of sun and moon that a good hour
 Bellowed and pranced in the round tower;
 Of golden king and Silver lady,
 Bellowing up and bellowing round,
 Till toes mastered a sweet measure,
 Mouth mastered a sweet sound,
 Prancing round and prancing up
 Until they pranced upon the top.
 That golden king and that wild lady
 Sang till stars began to fade,
 Hands gripped in hands, toes close together,
 Hair spread on the wind they made;
 That lady and that golden king
 Could like a brace of blackbirds sing.
 "It's certain that my luck is broken,'
 That rambling jailbird Billy said;
 "Before nightfall I'll pick a pocket
 And snug it in a feather bed.
 I cannot find the peace of home
 On great-grandfather's battered tomb.'