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Open Poetry #9
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Rex Allen McCoy
Member Elite
since 2000-01-30
Posts 2863
Sippin a Timmy's in London

0 posted 2000-09-17 10:30 AM


Pippa ... this is an Old Irish Poem
... if I run across anything Scottish pertaining to the passing of a loved one ...
I'll post it

Coach the Piper
~~~

One winters day long long ago
when I was a little fellow
A piper wandered to our door
gray headed blind and yellow
And oh how glad was my young heart
though earth and sky looked dreary
To see the stranger and his dog
poor "Pinch" and Coach O'Leary
~
And when he stowed away his "bag"
cross-barred with green and yellow
I thought and said "In Ireland's ground
there's not so fine a fellow"
And Fineen and Shane Machree
and Eily Kate and Mary
Rushed in with panting haste to "see"
and "welcome" Coach O'Leary
~
Oh! god be with those happy times
Oh! god be with my childhood
When I bare headed roamed all day
bird nesting in the wildwood
I'll not forget those sunny hours
how ever years may vary
I'll not forget my early friends
Nor honest Coach O'Leary
~
Poor Coach and "Pinch" slept well that night
and in the morning early
He called me up to hear him play
"The wind that shakes the barley"
And then he stroked my flaxen hair
and cried "God mark my Deary"
And how I wept when he said "fairwell
and think of Coach O'Leary"
~
The seasons came and went and still
old Coach was not forgotten
Although I thought him "dead and gone"
and in the cold clay rotten
And often when I walked and danced
with Eily Kate and Mary
We spoke of childhood's rosy hours
and prayed for Coach O'Leary
~
All twenty summers had gone past
and Junes red sun was shining
When I a man sat by my door
of twenty sad things thinking
A little dog came up the way
his gait was slow and weary
And at his tail a lame man limped
'Twas "Pinch" and Coach O'Leary
~
Old Coach! but ah! how woe-begone
his form is bowed and bending
His fleshless hands are stiff and wan
aye time is ever blending
the colors on his thread bare "bag"
and "pinch" is twice as hairy
And "thin spare" as when first I saw
himself and Coach O'Leary
~
"God blessing here" the wanderer cried
far far be Hell's black viper
Does  anybody here abouts
remember Coach the Piper
With swelling heart I grasped his hand
the old man murmured "Deary"
Are you the silky headed child
that loved poor Coach O'Leary
~
"Yes yes" I said, the wanderer wept
as if his heart was breaking
"And where a'vhic machree" he sobbed
is all the merry making
I found here twenty years ago
"My tale" I sighed "might weary"
Enough to say there's non but me
to welcome Coach O'Leary
~
"No no no" the old man cried
and wrung his hands in sorrow
"Pray lead me in Arther Machree
and I'll go home tomorrow
My peace is made- I'll calmly leave
this world so cold and dreary
And you shall keep my Pipes and Dog
and pray for Coach O'Leary"
~
With "Pinch" I watched his bed that night
next day his wish was granted
He died and Father James was brought
and the Requiem Mass was chanted
The neighbors came we dug his grave
near Eily Kate and Mary
And there he sleeps his last long sleep
God rest you Coach O'Leary
~~~
author unknown


[This message has been edited by Rex Allen McCoy (edited 09-17-2000).]

© Copyright 2000 Rex Allen McCoy - All Rights Reserved
Marsha
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-10
Posts 7423
Maidstone Kent England
1 posted 2000-09-17 11:10 AM


Rex, this is such a moving poem. It captured me and led me onward, amazingly I could hear the pipes and see the old Coach O'Leary. Beautifully written, as always. Love this, you can tell I know!
Rex Allen McCoy
Member Elite
since 2000-01-30
Posts 2863
Sippin a Timmy's in London
2 posted 2000-09-17 11:25 AM


Sorry Marsha ... I can't take the credit for this one ... not sure who wrote it ...
Pippa is looking for a Scottish poem suitable to be read at a funeral ... Just trying to help out

Irish Rose
Member Patricius
since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263

3 posted 2000-09-17 02:56 PM


Bravo! I love it!

Kathleen


tracie66
Member Elite
since 2000-01-18
Posts 4713
Australia
4 posted 2000-09-18 03:29 AM


Dear Rex
Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece of Irish poetry
Tracie~


Love is the life of the soul...
It is the harmony of the universe


michael kenny
New Member
since 2010-11-22
Posts 2

5 posted 2010-11-22 04:36 PM


Just one thing , dear friend, regarding 'pinch and caoch oleary'. Caoch is an irish word meaning 'blind'. A  rough phoenetic approximation might be 'caoyuk'. Have fun with that one.....
michael kenny
New Member
since 2010-11-22
Posts 2

6 posted 2010-11-22 08:56 PM


ooops. forgot to mention that 'pinch and caoch oleary' was written by John Keegan 1809-1849, who was a regular contributor to 'the Nation' newspaper which was founded by Thomas Davis from Mallow in county cork, and was the mouthpiece of the Young Ireland movement in those days. Keegan himself died of T.B. I can give much more on that topic if you wish.
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