The Words of Patrick Pearse

The History of Patrick Pearse, One of Irelands Greatest And Most Influential Political Figures and Leaders. A Poet, A Master of the Gaelic Language, And a Nationalist. Pearse was it all. And Died for his Land I am come of the seed of the people, the people that sorrow, That have no treasure but hope, No riches laid up but a memory Of an Ancient glory. My mother bore me in bondage, in bondage my mother was born, I am of the blood of serfs; The children with whom I have played, the men and women with whom I have eaten Have had masters over them, have been under the lash of masters, And, though gentle, have served churls; Their hands that have touched mine, the dear hands whose touch is familiar to me, Have worn shameful manacles, have been bitten at the wriest by manacles Have grown hard with the manacles and the task-work of strangers. I am flesh of the flesh of these lowly, I am bone of their bone, I that have never submitted; I that have a soul greater than the souls of my people’s masters I that have vision and prophecy and the gift of fiery speech, I that have spoken with God on the top of His holy hill. And because I am of the people, I understand the people, I am sorrowful with their sorrow, I am hungry with their desire: My heart has been heavy with the grief of mothers, My eyes have been wet with the tears of children, I have yearned with old wistful men, And laughed or cursed with young men, Their shame is my shame, and I have reddened for it, Reddened for that …