The Harp

A harp is mentioned in three out of the four stanzas, always near the stanza’s closing line. The harp is Ireland’s national symbol, being featured on its coins as well as on its passport and on noted political documents. It has been an official heraldic symbol since the thirteenth century and is used as an icon of Ireland’s pride, national identity, and artistic skill. Here, the harp is used as a metonym for Ireland itself — everything the country represents is contained within this one image. Thus, when the speaker describes how her “woman’s hand / Has struck thy gold harp” (Lines 45-46), she is describing how she is raising her hand in support of her country and heritage.

The Prophet-Leader

The “prophet-leader” mentioned in the second stanza (“Some Prophet‐Leader, with command” [Line 21]) is likely a reference to the Biblical prophet Moses...