C Poem - Cead Mile Go Homes

By mwc
- 566 reads
Cead Mile Go Homes
Leaving home and going far
A new beginning on a Western isle
Far from the hottest sun of Africa
Landing in a Celtic mist
Uniforms and questions
Endless questions
In strange contradiction
To the sign of many welcomes
One code for plastic folk
One other for those broke
Gathering tired little ones
Heading for the hostel
Then the long wet queues
No shelter from the rain
And those very friendly people
With wonderful sweet smiles
Who hold them behind a scrowl
To be revealed later
Over pints of black beer
To those who once went
Further West and farther away
Now back with dollar sway
But no smile or helpers hand
For him from the hottest land
Who came with expectation
Of at least a friendly grin
From those he thought would understand
That he wants to bargain
To get a little and give much later
As he had been taught a Christian should
And taught in a brogue at that
By those from the friendly land
Who came and told him
This is how it should be
And now he came to see
House devils but street angels
In their tiger misery
To give is to receive
To preach is to deceive
He wonders if they will ever see
As they kneel in their holy pew
That the man now on the cross
Is one of a different hue
But that is for them
Now is for him
Gathering tired little ones
Alone they bend into the slanty rain
He will stand on and on and long
For as long as ever it takes
MWC
23 VII '01
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