On the Famine Ridges, Garrafrauns, County Galway
(The Lark's Lament)
for Austin and Aine Cunningham and Family, Custodians.
The swirl of a morning mist revealed them
Close in together. By one, by two
'pended across a flitch of a field
- a hard wrought stone strewn mire
Weak shadows moving up shallow trenches
angry fists beating the anvil earth
Empty bellies giving poor counsel
in their kitchen - the hunger hearth
Stark ration scoured faces gathered
Mouthing a futile hymn
*Bia, Dia, Bia, their prayer
Whole parishes perishing
Last-born planted like seedlings
A crop they were fain to sow
Old ones shunned poor-shares and wandered
bequeathing each cursed row
Left furrows watered with mother's tears
from the bitter harvest's well
Ridges blooming with desperation
by Jude's October bell.
Sun summoned to sleep. They drift back
anchored to earth's embrace
Coffined by dead roots and branches
condemned by time and place
On uncut flags the lark laments
these wraiths where they shelve their bones
A shroud of bog cotton their raiment
their monument - a tumble of stones
*Food, God, Food
Signed and framed copies of this poem printed on quality paper are available in any size. Calligraphed versions also available. Please email the address below for more details. Copyright Brendan O'Neill.
Not to be reproduced in any form without permission.
