D An Gorta Mor (the Great Hunger)

An GORTA MOR

The Great Hunger/Famine

As I sat beside the grave stone
In a roofless church somewhere
I heard a feint cry from beyond
A child's voice, I could here
I stood awhile, then I said
What are you crying for
The answer, feint, so hard to hear
The words, "An Gorta Mor".

I stood and watched, my heart so tense
As from the shadows, crawled
A child, so frail in ragged clothes
Some words, she feebly called
I went and knelt beside her there
"What are you crying for"
And put my ear, her words to hear
She cried "An Gorta Mor".

"Mary, Mary" A voice called out
And from the shadows came
A Mother knelt in sorrow
Her appearance was the same
She held the girl there in her arms
Her feet, looked bloodied, sore
I looked, in her eyes of sadness
Her words "An Gorta Mor".

The Father stood in silence there
And put his dead son down
To take his wife unto his breast
With a scream, he cursed "The Crown"
He died then with his family
But his last words, just before
"God save Ireland from the Crown
And An Gorta Mor".

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