The Elleree7
A Song of Second Sight
Elleree! O Elleree!
Seeing what none else may see,
Dost thou see the man in grey?
Dost thou hear the night hounds bay?
Elleree! O Elleree!
Seventh son of seventh son,
All thy thread of life is spun,
Thy little race is nearly run,
And death awaits for thee!
Elleree! O Elleree!
Coronach shall wail for thee;
Get thee shrived and get thee blest,
Get thee ready for thy rest,
Elleree! O Elleree!
That thou owest quickly give,
What thou ownest thou must leave,
And those thou lovest best shall grieve,
But all in vain for thee!
“Bodach Glas!”8 the chieftain said,
“All my debts but one are paid,
All I love have long been dead,
All my hopes on Heaven are stay’d,
Death to me can bring no dole;”
Thus the Elleree replied;—
But with ebbing of the tide
As sinks the setting sun he died;—
May Christ receive his soul!
Notes
7 “Elleree” is the name of one who has the gift of second sight.
8 “Bodach Glas,” the Man in Grey, appears to a Highland family with the gift of second sight, presaging death.