Craic

The Irish have a word

They call it ‘craic’

Good company and lively conversation

Everyone involved

I heard it first when back

In Erris at my mother’s humble station

Hugh and Annie

Had a flock of children

And Nan as well her voice well to the fore

I sat among this crowd

As everyone talked out loud

And I never heard the like of it before

My cousins had

The gift of conversation

No one was ever left behind the door

No point in being mild

When every other child

Can say their piece and with you wipe the floor

The arguments

Were comical and grand

Say your piece and by it take your stand

In a house of such a number

You’d better not take your slumber

When another one might take the high command

I loved the way they spoke

Pure fascination

I never heard the like around my town

The simple joy in speaking

And maybe your nose tweaking

My Carey cousins people of renown

My mother

And her sisters in the kitchen

Would talk and laugh and argue through the day

And when they argued back

Sure they were only having craic

They were simply talking that Glencullen way

Brian Fahy

16 April 2021