What I have I give you
Said Peter to the man
Who lay a cripple by the Beautiful Gate
Silver and gold I do not have
But what I have I give
In the name of Jesus Christ arise and walk
My father had no choice about his life
After school at 14 down the pit
He escaped into the army
Six happy years he spent
And then no choice a war broke out
So that’s where his youth went
Demobbed and married
Where to find a job
Back down the pit
His brothers earned a bob
And there he worked
Shovelling coal by day
No one sees their hardship
It’s just the way
At 45 his health broke down
Coalminers’ disease
Pneumoconiosis if you please
A strong young man
Reduced to frailty
A spiritual struggle
Unemployed you see
In later days a fine contented man
Wanted to give me money
Now that he can
I’m okay pop I never could repay
The life you lived for me
That’s what I say
Silver and gold
You did not have
But what you had you gave
A father’s love and shelter
And mammy she would save
You worked so hard and did your best
At everything you tried
Today now I remember it
And say it now with pride
Brian Fahy
20 April 2022
Erris Poetry 