Sunday, 1 May 2016

Poem ~ Easter Rising: American View - Monday, 1 May 1916


Impression sketch of Roger Casement. [online] See original image at: <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sir_Roger_Casement_(6188264610).jpg> [Accessed: 01 May 2016]

i
Involved in the Irish plan
To break free of British Rule,
Sir Roger Casement had formed
The idea of a German Irish alliance.

He hoped to gain German
Support for the Irish rebellion,
To provide soldiers and 200,000
Rifles - but Casement's plan failed.

Believing that any uprising
Would falter without German
Backing, Casement returned
With intention to halt the rebellion.

From German hospitality,
The Irish Nationalist travelled
Back to Ireland aboard a U boat;
To land in Ireland at County Kerry.

Yet a reoccurrence of malaria
Made Casement too ill to travel -
So he remained at McKenna's Fort,
When he was then arrested for treason.

ii
News of Sir Casement's
Capture was reported, to have
Stirred some American people -
Particularly among Irish Americans.

Prior to any official release
Of events unfolding in Ireland,
Coded information was received
In the United States - to be circulated.

In delayed mid week reports
From New York, supporters there
Of Sinn Fein and Clan-na-Gael, had
Likely provided rebels financial support.

A statement by 'New York World'
Critics suggested that in the US, Irish
Revolutionaries always left getting shot
Shot, or shooting to unsophisticated cousins.

Those Irish having been settled
In America, were said to have ended
Feud with Britain - they saw Irish uprising
Stamped Made In Germany, to be treachery.

Risking lives to fight Germany
Were 200,000 Irishmen - a belief
Was a ruse of German propaganda,
Without any true link to the Irish people.

American opinion conceived how
The Irish rising and Sir Casement's
Part were in fact reaction to Redmond,
Irish MP - possessing old-fashioned ideals.

Opinions continued to emerge,
As the rebellion in Ireland carried
On - New York newspapers variously
Agreed that loyal Irish held no illusions.

The revolt was put down to be
Another bungling event of war-led
Berlin - with parallel guilt to Belgium
Invasion of selfishness behind the offence.

Opinion of German ambition
Had no respect for Ireland, other
Than to prompt hate for Britain - usage
Of Ireland was the greatest betrayer of war.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1916. American Views On The Dublin Revolt - A Futile Attempt. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 28 April 1916. P.7. Col.7. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12209365/Daily-Telegraph-April-28-1916.html>  [Accessed: 1 May 2016].

Source: File: Roger Casement. Online. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Casement> [Accessed 1 May 2016]

Source: File: Roger Casement: How did a hero come to be considered a traitor? By Peter Crutchley. 25 November 2013. Online. Available at: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25017936> [Accessed 1 May 2016]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 1 May 2016). 


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