Friday, March 15, 2013

Saint Patrick's Day


The Irish Connection is a good one within my family and very good friends.

Saint Patrick’s Day is Sunday. It is the day supposedly everyone is Irish. It rings true to me since there is a predominance of Irish blood that runs through my veins or should I say, “me veins”.

A number of my Celtic ancestors came from the old sod during the potato famine of the mid eighteen hundreds and established roots in Canada and the New England states.

I don’t know much about those folks or their needed escape from famine and oppression, but I do know the stories of mirth and woe from songs that my Mother would play on the piano and the family would sing when I was young.

A few years ago I spent some time in Ireland, not as a tourist for I had done that on other travels, but as a resident in one place so I could experience the Irish life. The result was expressed in poetry. Here is one expression.

Ireland
© 2006 Rolland G. Smith

Much pain was felt before the joy
As history will attest.
Old Ireland’s memory does employ
A hunger all detest.

But now the Irish share their mirth
With Emerald green and mist.
T’was not the land of “me own birth,”
But tis a land I’ve kissed.

I’ve come to see and be as one
With the Irish spirit.
It’s there I know, it’s halcyon
Listen and you’ll hear it.

It comes from harps and leprechauns
And pipsiewaggins too.
It comes from tunes from vagabonds;
The gypsies traveling through.

I smell the peat smoke wafting pass
The green grass scented air.
Reminding me of Erin’s past
And Celtic colleens fair.

The rainy mist has finally gone
And I can see the sun.
With feathers dried and birds in song
The damp is finally done.

Though fair, this day, a chilly one
Set high along the coast.
The cragged rocks today’s dolmen
Is nature’s mark to toast.

But in this land forever green
The mist is part of her.
Tis here that I have keenly seen
The sun to rain defer.

Happy Saint Patrick’s day to all.


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