Paul O’Connell’s Farewell 16th October 2015 by/Tony Gorman
A warrior of our battles
And glories of the past
For helping Ireland’s Rugby
O’Connell’s name will last
He stood his ground so gallantly
A gentleman of the sport
He tackled all fearlessly
And in fairness a real sort
A role model to his teammates
A true leader of his day
His pains were shelved on the field
He showed a warrior’s way
In tackles he was fearsome
In lineouts had safe hand’s
And his courage never lacking
He was loved by Irish fans
He has shown the way for others
To tread that path’s he tread
And bring Ireland hope and glory
When all is done and said
Best wishes to Paul O’Connell and may we thank you for giving us so much excitement over the years.
The Return Visit
by/Tony Gorman
Slowly I walked down the streets of my childhood
Remembering the places where I used to play
Sadly the areas are deserted of children
Only some old folk live there today
I visualise my friends playing games along the pavement
The girls with their skipping reciting their rhymes
The boys with their marbles of harlequin colours
As my mind kept remembering our past childhood times
I hear all voices of the women on doorsteps
Telling of happenings that made up their day
Their menfolk out working in all kinds of weather
With one thing in mind, to earn a day’s pay
And on the green sites they have built ugly factories
Removing the views of the landscapes we had
And houses half built are the signs of recession
The visions we see there would make you feel sad
So I’m walking away from this place I was born in
As its changes don’t figure too well in my heart
But I’ll always remember the good times I had there
But those times won’t return so it’s time to depart
So farewell to the streets and the fields of my childhood
And the ghosts of my friends that roam there today
For I leave with my memories of happier times
As time wait’s for no man and its true what they say
I wrote this poem in 2012 after taking a trip back to Cabra West where I was born.
I had a very happy upbringing and some wonderful friends back then and I suppose I had expected everything to be exactly the same as when I left over forty years ago.
When I was young we had miles of open green fields to play and an open swimming baths where all my friends would meet but sadly that’s all gone now.
I loved all the openness of greenery when I walked over Broombridge on the way to the baths and the Tolka River but developers have changed all that with factories and houses.
One good thing I will always treasure the memories of how it was back in my boyhood days.
Beautiful as always Tony, I saw an interview with Michael Gambon (a fellow Cabra native) who expressed similar sentiment
Thank you for the wonderful picture to complement my poem.
I got to say FRG have provided some great photos for all the poems I have posted on the site.
Many Thanks
Tony
Tony, you’re more than welcome, I just wanted to say that today has been a record breaking day for the website, we have had 900 visitors since this morning, the previous record was 605 for a day! Of those visitors, 673 have viewed your poem. On Facebook, it has stirred great emotion with people talking about Cabra specifically in the past and also among Irish Diaspora with whom it has struck a chord.
On behalf of everyone here, I want to thank you for allowing us to post your poem, indeed all your wonderful work that seems to reach people so deeply.
Thanks Again
Eoghan
Thanks’ Eoghan
I enjoy writing on the site and I am overwhelmed by the amount of people viewing my poems. As long as my poems help bring viewers to the site I’m happy.
Thanks again
Tony