[PW] Here is the entire poem and source .... RE: They have no hands...

[Franco, Adrienne]

Raven's Rock (by Joseph Campbell).
Pages 186-188 of:  Clarke, Austin (editor). The Poems of Joseph
Campbell. Dublin: Allen Figgis, 1963.
Footnote at bottom of page 186 states "Raven's Rock. Written at
Glencree, May, 1916.  This is an Aisline or Vision Poem."
Another footnote on same page says "Those who appear in this vision are
as follows: ..........................  Roger Casement."

NOTE THAT THE LINES IN QUESTION APPEAR NEAR THE END OF THE POEM ON PAGE
188.  HERE IS ENTIRE POEM.

The line of the hills is a song.
Abhna, Aa-na-craebhi,
Place of trees and rivers,
Praise God with their sweetness.
The lake shines, darker than a hound's eye.

On the stones
The shadows of fern-stalks
Write secretly in ogham.
The rainbows build their towers,
And pull them down again.
A cloud comes,
And out of it a sun-stained man.

Who is that is coming?

Cumhall's son, of the sidh of Almhain.
The Red Spears are no more:
They have gone from the bright world.

Who is the grey head that follows?

I came over sea;
I freed Fal from her bondage;
I blessed the fountain;
I walk now bodiless.

Who passes, crowned with a crown?

A knitter of warring rules, 
A maker of circuits,
A giver of gold;
Slain at last on the still edge of battle.

Who is the boy on horseback?

No stranger to this glen.
Though snowdrifts they hunted me,
As the lame wolf is hunted.

Who is he, pale and bloody from a wound?

When the wild geese cry, the west listens.
I died not for my own,
But my own love me.

Who is the young man with sad dreams?

The weavers of green cloth,
The beaters of pikes may tell you.
You will not see my name cut on a grave.

Who is the proud, bearded man?

Shorn by a woman of kingship,
Thus far have I led you,
But set no mark to your journey.

Who are the marching fianna?

Ask the spring, 
The summer torrent that wept us.
If we are dead, it is for the great love
We bore the Gael.

Who is the tall prisoner?

I GO TO THE ROPE AND THE QUICKLIME.
THEY HAVE NO HANDS THAT WOULD DELIVER ME --
O CHRIST OF NAZARETH! NO HANDS. 

<TWO MORE STANZAS FOLLOW>.

Adrienne Franco / Iona College / New Rochelle, NY 10801


Adrienne Franco / Iona College / New Rochelle, NY 10801 

-----Original Message-----
From: project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org
[mailto:project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org] On Behalf Of
Franco, Adrienne
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2007 10:31 AM
To: list at project-wombat.org
Subject: Re: [PW] They have no hands...

Actually, I don't think the author of the poem is Austin Clarke.  It's
just that the lines of the poem are included in a book by Austin Clarke,
Poetry in Modern Ireland (1951) on page 38.  I believe the author of the
poem is Joseph Campbell and it appears the title is Raven's Rock.  

I just got the book off the shelf (Poetry in Modern Ireland by Austin
Clarke, which we have here in our library).  Here is excerpt from page
39.

"The execution of Pearse, MacDonagh and Plunkett by the British military
had a profound effect on our other poets and stirred in some of them
that impassioned eloquence which had been avoided for so long.  Yeats,
in two poems which have become famous, A.E., Lady Gregory, Seumas
O'Sullivan, Padraic Colum, James Stephens, Joseph Campbell, were among
those who protested.  Joseph Campbell's Raven's Rock, is an historical
Aisling, or vision of revolt throughout the ages ending with the fate of
Roger Casement.

I go to the rope and the quicklime,
They have no hands that would deliver me --
O, Christ of Nazareth, no hands !"

Adrienne Franco / Iona College

-----Original Message-----
From: project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org
[mailto:project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org] On Behalf Of JT
Thompson
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2007 3:01 AM
To: list at project-wombat.org
Subject: Re: [PW] They have no hands...

Yes! Yes! It's the Roger Casement one. So it's by Austin Clarke. 
Thank you so much, Adrienne Franco (and also Jeanne Schramme and 
swguardian for checking for me).
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