‘Wimpeys’ up Shakerley Road
Post war built estate
Had all kinds of folk there
Their gardens would relate
Some had lawns so manicured
Quiet indoor folk
Others like up Devon Road
Gardening was a joke
We had garden front and back
And garden to the side
And Mammy made the most of it
Gardening was her pride
Lawn and flowers at the front
Crazy paving too
At the back our playground grass
A vegetable or two
Daddy laid a lawn out there
At mammy’s kind request
Smooth and beautiful it was
Equal with the best
Then one day on coming home
Consternation and surprise
Mammy had turned it over
Potatoes in her eyes
And in old age the bungalow
Became their Ponderosa
Flowers again and shrubs again
Wonderful! You knows her
And sure enough potatoes
And vegetables I know
Just like in Glencullen
All those years ago
Brian Fahy
14 February 2022
Erris Poetry 