Don’t send a gasoon on a man’s errand
on July 20, 2020
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“A fat pig in a sty doesn’t hear a hungry one go by”
on July 20, 2020
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The ‘Good People’
on July 18, 2020
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by M Ni B., Longford
THE ” GOOD PEOPLE”
Down from their secret haunt they come, A-trooping down the hill,
green jackets, red caps, white owl feather
– proud and bold they step together
The yellow moon doth guide them, as implishly they leap
their wizened crinkled faces, as old as rivers deep.
At midnight ’round the red hot coal, they toast their tiny feet,
sipping clean Spring water, they search for loosened teeth.
They frown on itchy noses, a bed that’s facing West,
a web they love to weave around, the Stranger or the Guest.
Theý’re still around, those little folk, who are both wild and free,
don’t lend an egg or spill the salt,
for certain they will point and say
”these humans are at fault”
“Time enough” lost the ducks
on July 17, 2020
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Carpe Diem
In olden days, ducks were an important source of food on the farm. They were locked up at night for fear of the fox, so delay in securing the door could cost disaster for the ducks and for the farmer’s family. – Kitty Hughes
Photo credit: David Jusko
IF ONE’S EYEBROW BE ITCHY, YOU WILL BE DRINKING WHISKEY
on July 17, 2020
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after Flann O’Brien
by Anonymous, Longford
When your heart feels very strange and your leg it will not rest,
And you are feeling a trifle frisky,
There’s a piece of advice that you must remember best:
IF ONE’S EYEBROW BE ITCHY, YOU WILL BE DRINKING WHISKEY.
The upset tum and the fevered brow are very frightful travails,
But a remedy that will work briskly:
A generous sup of flat 7-up will cure what ails, but
IF ONE’S EYEBROW BE ITCHY, YOU WILL BE DRINKING WHISKEY.
Itches descend and they truly offend without reason,
So commit to your memory this key:
A hale and a hearty cure no matter what the season:
IF ONE’S EYEBROW BE ITCHY, YOU WILL BE DRINKING WHISKEY.
You’ll find on an island what you bring to it
on July 16, 2020
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A Spark on the Candle means a Letter
on July 16, 2020
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Do you know about Granard’s greatest love story – that of local lady Kitty Kiernan & her fiancée Michael Collins, General of the Free State Army.
Many letters were exchanged between Michael & Kitty documenting not only their love story but also the social & political happenings of the time.
At Knights and Conquests heritage center in Granard they have dedicated an exhibition room to this great story.
Both trunk and leaves make a tree – but roots they share with you and me
on July 15, 2020
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Cutting the Yarrow
on July 15, 2020
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by Tom Carty, Galway
A Halloween Game
Eleven pieces cut, a sixpence as forfeit
The ten others under pillow kept
Those who on it to silence sworn
Until the morning after which they had slept
Should they speak before the mornings dawn
And they to the floor their blanket they had tossed
They broke the Yarrow pledge…
Their challenge and their sixpence was lost.
Oh, so many cared for their comfort that night
And other such tricks to get them to speak
So simple pleasures in a time now past
When folk their fun did seek!!!
Should the sleeper their whisht manage to hold
Who they dreamed of that night would be their spouse it was said
How many men dreamed of a comely cailin on such night
Who dreamed herself of another dashing blade, not them, instead!
Tom’s poem ties in with the North Longford Lore of a game played on Halloween. It involved cutting the yarrow and reciting this verse, that night you would dream of your future spouse!
In Cáit’s collection, there are several references to the Yarrow including the verse “Good morrow, good morrow, my pretty fair yarrow! I pray before this time to-morrow You will tell who my true love shall be. The clothes that he wears, and the name that he bears, And the day that he’ll come to wed me”
Tom publishes poetry, some based on folklore on writingsinrhyme.com
Tied to Mammy’s Apron Strings
on July 10, 2020
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