Holyhead dark at the dead of night
The steam train burping belches
Crowds disembarking faces bright
And the signs as strange as Welch is
Ship at anchor on high tide
A ropey gangway skyward
Climb aboard don’t look aside
At oily water by-world
Once on board around we go
Then down the stairs we wander
To cabins neatly in a row
To bed and so to slumber
In the morning waking slow
We dress and go for breakfast
Eggs and bacon on the go
And toast to make the day last
Out on deck sea breezes blow
And sunshine onwards beckons
And bright blue sky and land ahoy
Dun Laoghaire so we reckon
Steeple tall and sleepy station
Glisten in the sun
And we all smiles anticipation
Miles and miles to run
That yearly pilgrimage of grace
From Britain to Emerald Isle
Has found within my heart its place
And always makes me smile
The journey westward is the game
From morn to evening station
We follow the sun it’s just the same
It’s part of our creation
Through the darkness over the sea
Calm and rough sea sending
We wake at morn a sight to see
A broken heart for mending
A bright blue sky a fiery sun
A welcome to the homeland
A rest from work and worry done
Agra we are in Ireland
Brian Fahy
13 April 2021
Erris Poetry 