Of the Irish, Paris br THE Lombards having gone back to their land, br We, who might never flock to native land br Except like birds that fly like fugitives, br Desperately, in a wind across the sea, br We drew our brood to their forsaken nest. br The Lombards’ halls became the Irelanders', br And charity was craved for us 'twas given br In names of Almantza and Namur, br Cremona, Barcelona, Charleroi br Fields that our soldiers bled on for a cause br Not ours, under command not ours. br br Our order broken, they who were our brood br Knew not themselves the heirs of noted masters, br Of Columbanus and Erigena: br We strove towards no high reach of speculation, br Towards no delivery of gestated dogma, br No resolution of age-long dispute. br Only to have a priest beside the hedges, br Baptizing, marrying, br Offering Mass within some clod-built chapel, br And to the dying the last sacrament br Conveying, no more we strove to do br We, all bare exiles, soldiers, scholars, priests.