We were in the Railway Bar,
Downtown Rathdrum
After the Fureys played a session
On the Green
The bar was fairly crowded
With the locals
And with those like us
Who’d travelled for the scene
Michael called a song
And sang him self
A habit that he was
No stranger to
And then an old man
Propped up in the corner
Was prevailed upon
And he had had a few
The barman asked for patience
While we listened
He’s been on the beer since Sunday
He explained
The festival was going very nicely
And now the old man rose and entertained
In an atmosphere of smoke
And cigarettes
A crowded house
And air so hard to breathe
The old man’s voice rang out
As clear as crystal
A rendition that would bring you to your knees
The song he sang
So beautiful and moving
The Lark in the Clear Air
There
And that pub so crowded and so heaving
Was stilled to silence
By that old man’s prayer
Brian Fahy
11 May 2021
Erris Poetry 