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ilviii.
Introduction
stressed w-phrase, with its final stress ultimate, followed
by an a-phras© of two syllables with single ultimate
stress. This a-pbrase is repeated throughout the poem,
which may therefore be called an a-poem. The form of
this and the following ten examples may be represented
compendiously:
3 {A Dhomhnuill an Duin) thar chdch.
This fine swinging measure has been copied with
success in the English iorram, “ Over the Sea to Skye” :
Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,
Thunder clouds rend the air;
Baffled our foes stand by the shore,
Follow they will not dare.
The changes of measure in the course of this poem and
similar poems indicate changes of stroke in the rowing.
Quite often the opening strophes of an iorram show
imperfect assonance as compared with the rest of the
poem, reflecting probably the movement of the oars
before the crew have got properly together in their
swing; compare the opening of lorram na Truaighe, p.
201, with the following stanzas.
(40) P. 226:
Na’n dubhadh an sk'abh ’s gu’n cromadh a’ ghrton
leam bu mhithich bhith tn'all air chuairt.
A triple double-stressed ia-phrase with its final stress
ultimate, followed by a «a-phrase of two syllables with
single ultimate stress. A «a-poem.
(41) P. 239, A mhic an fhir ruaidh, &c.
Similar to the above, but the final phrase, of three
syllables, has ante-penultimate stress, except in the first
strophe, where it is penultimate. The measure changes
in course of the poem.