Between the Muing and Glencullen River
Sits Aunty Sarah’s house
All closed up today
The family away
It marks the origin of my life
Immaculate conception
Is that why I’m fixated so
On this corner of creation
Down from the house a meadowland
And a path down to the river
And facing you is Tuiscean Hill
Oval shaped and heather
And sheep are dotted here and there
Dwellings dotted too
And down below is a shining lake
Carrowmore in view
Half way down that beaten path
You come upon a sound
The babbling of water
The river’s holy ground
One moment all is silence
A lark high in the air
The next the sound of murmuring
Of water running near
A deep hole by the river
Bottomless we were told
Wise advice from adults
To keep us from being bold
And here the river shallow
Translucent over stones
Pebbles in the flow of life
Beyond them darker tones
Deep bog brown in places
The water here slows down
Almost to a standstill
Deep dark waters frown
Then dancing over shallows
Shiny pebbles gleam
And trout are darting here and there
Rejoicing in the stream
This river was the lifeblood
For people in the glen
They gathered its water every day
To cook and wash and clean
They made their homes along its bank
Its faithful waters true
And emigrants returned again
To smile and look at you
This is no mighty Shannon
With proud wide riverbanks
No sailing boats no monasteries
Adorn its shining flanks
It is just a humble bog brown stream
Flows into Carrowmore
But it gave life to all my clan
I could not ask for more
Brian Fahy
8 March 2022
Erris Poetry 