The Rearguard Leader

De Valera was at Cashel on Tuesday, and issued orders that a stand should be made in the last man. He then left for Clogben, 18 miles away. De Valera is now at Suri Valley and his early flight to a mountain fastness is predicted...... There are quite a number of De Valeras in this world.

When I hear a
De Valera
Talking large and talking loud,
Then I feel that
An appeal that
Will not go down with the crowd
Here is spoken; for I fear
He will soon be in the rear.

For I fear a
De Valera—
Speak he high, or speak he low—
Cannot linger.
Stern Fate’s finger
Points the way that he must go.
Tho’ the “bhoys” may linger here
He must hasten to the rear.

People jeer a
De Valera
When the fighting all is done.
Wits returning,
Him they’re spurning,
Whether they have lost or won.
And when fighting days are o’er
Rearguard leaders are no more.

Were it Brady.
Or O’Grady,
I should yell “Go at ’em, boy!”
But the Spanish,
Dagoes, Danish,
Hearty knocks do not enjoy.
Mike O’Meara might be bold;
But Valera leaves me cold.