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An Irishman in London

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< Carnival Tony
20 August 2004
The Tinkerman's D >
26 August 2004
August 2004
A Tinker's Tale
Honda Days
The Tinkerman's Daughter
Red Hanrahan's Song about Ireland
Carnival Tony
Carnival Capers
Oxfam Retreat
Oxfam Bric a Brac
My Mate Jim
Smoking Sisters
Weeping Woman
Rolling to Kensal Green
Canal Bridge
On the Narrow Boat
To the Bishop and Bear
« August 2004 Archive
23 August 2004
19:41:00 o'clock BST

Red Hanrahan's Song about Ireland

Picture from Hometown

Thinking of Knocknarea

The old brown thorn-trees break in two high over Cummen strand,

Under a bitter black wind that blows from the left hand;

Our courage breaks like an old tree in a black wind and dies,

But we have hidden in our hearts the flame out of the eyes

Of Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.

The wind has bundled up the clouds high above Knocknarea,

And thrown the thunder on the stones for all that Maeve can say.

Angers that are like noisy clouds have set our hearts abeat;

But we have all bent low and low and kissed the quiet feet

Of Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.

The yellow pool has overflowed high up on Clooth-na-Bare,

For the wet winds are blowing out of the clinging air;

Like heavy flooded waters our bodies and our blood;

But purer than a tall candle before the Holy Rood

Is Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.

W B Yeats



Written by liampu Blog about this entry
This entry has 3 comments: (Add your own)
  • #3 Comment from carolhehe 
    26/08/04 06:39 Permalink
    I love ole fashion poetry
  • #2 Comment from dhcelt 
    24/08/04 10:51 Permalink
    Mmm Yeats. I like Yeats.
  • #1 Comment from davobarbus 
    24/08/04 06:23 Permalink
    Nice to have a bit of Yeats first thing in the morning.