A Song for the Irish

by David Stare
(Sacramento, California. USA)

Upon a quilt of green, I lay, and
listened to the auld songs
sung in plaintive joy.

Earth, hill and stream echoed, in chorus,
the hymns, carols and ballads
the island folk sang....
land and love lost
land stitched by hedge and stone
spotted by sheep and cow
home and field

Along the shores,
melodies rose, the quiet songs,
of family, hearth, work and play,
of history written in standing stone,
castle walls, kills and pubs
from rolling hills, shaded glens
by rivers soft and angry seas

Their songs fitted, one to another,
walls of stone.
David Stare
6-10-2015