Wow, That was well written and moving, wasn't it? Thank you so much for posting this poem. Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jean R." <jeanrice@cet.com> To: <IRISH-IN-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 9:17 AM Subject: [UK-Irish] Ireland" -- Belfast-born John HEWITT (1907-1987) - Director Herbert Art Gallery/Museum, Coventry, England > IRELAND > > We Irish pride ourselves as patriots > and tell the beadroll of the valiant ones > since Clontarf's sunset saw the Norsemen broken... > Aye, and before that too we had our heroes: > but they were mighty fighters and victorious. > The later men got nothing save defeat, > hard transatlantic sidewalks or the scaffold... > > We Irish, vainer than tense Lucifer, > are yet content with half-a-dozen turf, > and cry our adoration for a bog, > rejoicing in the rain that never ceases, > and happy to stride over the sterile acres, > or stony hills that scarcely feed a sheep. > But we are fools, I say, are ignorant fools > to waste the spirit's warmth in this cold air, > to spend our wit and love and poetry > on a half-a-dozen peat and a black bog. > > We are not native here or anywhere. > We were the keltic wave that broke over Europe, > and ran up this bleak beach among these stones; > but when the tide ebbed, were left stranded here > in crevices, and ledge-protected pools > that have grown saltier with the drying up > of the great common flow that kept us sweet > with fresh cold draughts from deep down in the ocean. > > So we are bitter, and are dying out > in terrible harshness in this lonely place, > and what we think is love for usual rock, > or old affection for our customary ledge, > is but forgotten longing for the sea > that cries far out and calls us to partake > in his great tidal movements round the earth. > > -- John Hewitt (1907-1987), poet, critic, museum official, was born in > Belfast and educated at Methodist College and Queen's University. He > retired in 1972 from directing the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in > Coventry, England. In this poem, Hewitt explores his relationship with his > harsh, lonely home. > > > ==== IRISH-IN-UK Mailing List ==== > To unsub or change your subscription: > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Ethnic-Irish/IRISH-IN-UK.html > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > >