Pat told stories of old times, living in digs
in Athy, working on the roofin’ for aul’ Hammond.
Me with my booklearning piped up
“I heard of Athy,
“And look! a barge comes bringing from Athy
And other far- flung towns mythologies.” ”,
lines from the canalbankpoet.
“Bet he never saw it in the lashing
rain”, Pat observed dryly.
No. Nor I had never seen it his way,
from a cold slate roof breaking galvanised
tacking nails with the long ripper,
and only the price of two pints in his pocket,
till Friday.
He was glad for me that I hadn’t.
Martin Swords May 2009
i.m. Pat Swords 1915 - 1978
On His Birthday 1st May
Martin Swords
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/far-from-athy/
