The National Poet Of Ireland Poem by Francis Duggan

The National Poet of Ireland who died in eighteen forty nine
With the then gentry of Dublin he never did wine and dine
James Clarence Mangan died of consumption at forty six years old
The story of his tragic life is one that has often been told

He wrote the National Poem of Ireland the beautiful 'Dark Rosaleen'
In his sad life the face of hardship he had often seen
His marvelous poems generations of young Irish poets inspire
Poems such as 'A Vision Of Connacht' and 'O Hussey's Ode To the Maguire'

There is little doubt that Mangan was a major Irish poet
Yet lesser poets than he was seen to be more worthy of note
He died quite young in famine times without a penny to his name
For the National Poet of Ireland it was a hungry road to fame

The names of many good poets of Ireland to the ways of time have gone
But as the National Poet of the Country the fame of Mangan does live on
Since he died in his forty sixth year one hundred and sixty five years in time has gone
But in his marvelous poetry his fame is living on.