The Banshee

Now God between us and all harm,For I to-night have seenA banshee in the shadow passAlong the dark boreen.

And as she went she keened and criedAnd combed her long white hair,She stopped at Molly Reilly's door,And sobbed till midnight there.

And is it for himself she moans,Who is so far away?Or is it Molly Reilly's deathShe cries until the day?

Now Molly thinks her man is goneA sailor lad to be;She puts a candle at her doorEach night for him to see.

But he is off to Galway town,(And who dare tell her this?)Enchanted by a woman's eyes,Half-maddened by her kiss.

So as we go by Molly's doorWe look towards the sea.And say, “May God bring nome your lad,Wherever he may be.”

I pray it may be Molly's selfThe banshee keens and cries,For who dare breathe the tale to her,Be it her man who dies?

But there is sorrow on the way,For I to-night have seenA banshee in the shadow passAlong the dark boreen.