The ongoing debate between tradition al Irish and the Atheist Ireland movement about the playing of the Angelus on the national broadcaster R.T.E. inspired this defense of the tradition from me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHlaXOmjC-4
"Cat in the Kitchen": Satire on US Iraq withrawal Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2010 Poesi, 300 ord
The US operation in Iraq was like putting a cat out of a kitchen as he may cause damage, and causing more damage themselves in the process. Obamas grand announcement is no solace to those who lost their lives, homes and loved ones in the Iraq Civil War, and who continue to do so to this day.
See the video on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2z15g5AQm4
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A few new poems from Tomás Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2010 Poesi, 600 ord
Add me on Facebook:
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Website: http://writingsinrhyme.com
Here are in this posting two poems, one written while in Prague and the other is about walking in Dublin. Alos, in the footer of the note are links to other poems of mine on my site you may like.
Feel free to add me on Facebook - see links above.
Thought I: A Poem
for Her I’ll Write
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Thought I: a poem I’ll write
For her every day,
Though never loved was she by I
My feelings for her I’d show.
But my feelings I did hide
Was I right not to let them be shown
A friend I was to her like many
Of my love she has not known.
Sailing Neath the
Charles Bridge
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Such history flows beneath this bridge
And all that have walked on it
So many pass its statues walk
And think so little of it.
Germans, Russians and the Slav
Have at times been masters here
And yet none was ever master
So from history it does appear
http://writingsinrhyme.com/Poetry/Sailing_Neath_the_Charles_Bridge.html
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Keeping Time Throughout the Ages Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2009 Poesi, 300 ord
The corncrake has been saved more or less by efforts of the "Save the Corncrake" movement in Ireland, and the RSPB in the UK. The bird, its distinctive sound once common, is now only in a few hinterlands, one of the main ones in the callowlands around Banagher in County Offaly, and down into Lusmagh and also Meelick and Clonfert in neighbouring Galway, where the overflows of the River Shannon created the callowland so suitable to its habitiat.
A series of initiatives, coupled with grants, caused changes to the way farmers done thier farming to take account fo the needs of the corncrake, and numbers are stabilising.
The poem asks, if we made the same efforts to accommodate our fellow man as we do for a bird whose song is not nice, feathers are not useful, and cannot be eaten, would the world not be a better place?
The poetry video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lETjQBK2cwQ
Far from Kiltartans Poor He Died Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2010 Poesi, 200 ord
William Butler Yeats poems in memory of Major Willaim Robert Gregory celebrate him as an Irish airman, not giving the fact that he was a lover
of the empire and stood against everything the poor of Kiltartan loved or wanted.
See the video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WJaBvEvNuY
Gods Ministers Abused His Trust Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2010 Poesi, 300 ord
The child abuse scandal in Ireland rolls on and on as it does throughout the world. It is something beyond the Catholic Church, we have seen in education and sports as well. What is sickening most is the way it was covered up, and how normal youths were condemned for natural love - OK, sins of the flesh but it is good to be human - and girls who got with child from that had their names blackened by society who knew full well the excesses of members of the church and hid them for fear of causing scandal.
They are as bad as those who did the wrong.
The second thing that sickens me is the churches defense that one who committs such acts is ill, and so is not criminally responsible. I do not accept that, or the thinking that canon law is on equal footing or superior to state law. Christ himself said "Give to Ceaser what belongs to him, and to God what is God’s". Gods court comes after life, during life it is the courts of man.
Why were the preists not defrocked, and handed over to the authorities? It happened to a few who fell in normal and natural love with women, to whom it should not have happened.
The other end is the element who attach themselves to the argument who wish to destroy at any cost the Church, and religion as a whole. I feel they will get the same come uppance, for using the victims as a theological football.
Modern Venus Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2010 Poesi, 200 ord
The Growing Wind Hints at Death
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A growing wind gusting
The Romany see with a sense of fear
For it is a belief of theirs
That when wind is strong, death is near.
So next time the wind is gusting
And you are standing there
Think of the sick and dying
And for them say a prayer...
Kosovos Gyspies kids still dying of lead poisoning Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2009 Debatt, 500 ord
Kathy French was an Irish model and local celebrety and died of a cocaine overdose in December last year, to a Dianaesque outporing of grief in the media.
It was a mere two or three weeks after two young men from a working class estate in Waterford died of the same causes, to no great hoo-haw from the media, showing the hypocracy of the reporting TV and newspapers.
While I myself had no great sympathy for the young men, though I of course do for their families - I feel the same about Kathy French - she brought it on herself, and did not warrant the hysterical reaction in the press.
Many will be aware of the poems about the Romanys of Kosovo, and some have emailed me privatly to ask for progress. The present situation is still grave: just arrived is the latest info which I give here, along with my latest hastily written tragically inspired poem.
The Unseen Shadow * Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2008 Poesi, 200 ord
Sandy Row in Belfast is the heart of the Loyalist paramilitaries, and I was passing there for the first time last Saturday, which inspired this poem written in the Standard Habbie format made famous by Robbie Burns.
She Was A Dandelion Seed In The Wind Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2008 Poesi, 150 ord
Tony Kahn, a Boston DJ, told of a story how a ducks loss of all her chicks led him to meet and bond with the rough people from quite literally the wrong side of the road.
For Sale A Soul and A Body Whole Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2008 Poesi, 400 ord
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Haiku For Iraq
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Once reigned beauty
Then a king and then despot
Today fear rules
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More poems and haikus at http://www.writingsinrhyme.com
Aphrodite ag Snámh ::: Aphrodite Swimming Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 200 ord
As a Simpsons fanatic... how did the small screen heros fare on the Silver Screen?
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Feel free to forward on, but please keep this notice.
Poetry by Tomas O’ Carthaigh, 2007
http://www.writingsinrhyme.com
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Three Haikus and BabelClub info. Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Övrigt, 150 ord
This is a poem set in the last few centuries that tells of a lovers murder and its result.
Ive been adulterating WTY with WritersCafe and 8hop.com for the past few months, but I intend to return to old faithful (WTY) more often, and catch up on the writings of old friends.
My most recent work is posted on WritersCafe at http://www.writerscafe.org/profile/TomasOCarthaigh and I’ll publish a selection on WTY.com
As well as writing here, I contribute to http://www.WritersCafe.org, and in replying to one of their forums I wrote this, and thought it might make a nice topic for WTY.
This is how I started into writing: what is your story? Tell your story by commenting on this one.
"Smile When Walking Among Strangers" is a poem reflecting on the need for positive thinking on meeting someone new, the title poem ststes we do not need harsh pilgramages to be good people, and in "The Last Refuge of the Desperate" a defense is put up for the writers of poetry. I hope you like there!
"Yearn Not For Yesterday@ and other poems. Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 500 ord
A tramp reflects that though he has no home, the house he squats in is officially the biggest house in town, allbeit a ruin. Its taking looking on the bright side to extremes! :-)
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PS: Its good to see WTY back on the go again! Well done Max!
Quickly, Come, Run... The Sky Is Falling... Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 200 ord
The eco scares bore me to death, I think by eggageration they are killing more support than they are gaining. The carbon tax idea is just a way to sell something for nothing, or sell nothing as something. Who’se paying? You and I, the gullible taxpayer.
Proof its bad? George Bush supports it now! :-)
Earth Day my Arse! (excuze moi francaise!)
"Sinners at a Seance" and other poems. Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 400 ord
Always a fan of Yeats, the only disturbing thing I found about him was his dabbling in the occult for inspiration in his writing, whereas simple reflection in his faith would have sufficed. While not a great person for Church, on occasion I do reflect, as is seen by the faith based poems I sometimes publish here. For me that is my faith, and that is suffice.
The Ballad of Hells Lake Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 300 ord
Those familiar with Irish mythology will know the story of Finn Mc Cool Fionn Mac Cumhaill), who killed a dog that attacked him, and vowed to replace the loss to the owner, giving himself the name of Cu Cullain, or hound of Cullain. When America destroyed Saddam, they did not take a duty of protection for Iraq, but let it slide into the civil war we see today. George Bush is no Fionn Mac Cumhaill.
The Hungry Grass Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 200 ord
Africa is the mainstay in the news for famine, but this poem tells of an Irish supernatural phenomenon where the dead from the Great Famine allegedgy left a legacy behind them for those who would walk where they fell...
This tory always makes my skin creep when I hear it, and I hope my efforts in rhyme has a similar effect on you!
"Words Written While Waiting at Dublin Airport" Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 200 ord
While Ireland is not known for cricket today, it was not always so, we used to be very good at it indeed. However the Gaelic revival set back the sport somewhat for 100 years or so, but today all sports co-exist together.
I still prefer Hurling though! :-)
"It’s Just Not Cricket" Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 280 ord
“Setting Your Players On Fire Is Just Not Cricket”
.- Headline from “The Star”, of Monday, March 19th, 2007 , after reports came in of cricket fans in Pakistan burning effigies of the team and coach on St. Patrick’s Day, after their loss to Ireland.
Subsequent revelations of the murder of their team coach throw this poem into an eerie light, as I had not known of it when I wrote the poem, just that he had died. Seen as a Gentleman’s game, we could not understand how Pakistan could be such sore losers.
"Foreworks from Heaven" and Other Poems Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 200 ord
A few poem that I hope readers will enjoy on God, Faith and Life. I write and when I do it is often to give meaning to life, and I hope others find a little something in my words to make sense for them or give them a little hope.
"The Ballad of the Turn of Luck" Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 250 ord
Inspiring tale for those out of work and who look to have little prospects... On October 22nd 1995, an unemployed man Vince Kearney in Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland had three children, and had a leaking roof in his house. Prospects for work was bleak, and he was getting the usual pressure to find work that did not exist for him. He got the ultimate revenge on the condecending dole clerks when he won the lotto, purchased the local dole office, rose the rent, and got them evicted! The dole office was the old office of the White Star ine, and he opened a theme bar in it that is still there.
I wrote the poem as I heard it, no doubt there are a few embeellishements alonng the way! Its the ultimate good luck story!
"She Loved Not Him Who Her Father Chose" Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 250 ord
Love against the odds will transcend death, as is told in this tragic poem, where a girl is forbidden to love the man she does, and is to marry a man of her fathers choosing.
Hope it doesnt make you cry!!!
Big Eyes Blinking Blankly Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 200 ord
Ghost story lovers will love this story - its true, honest! - of an old woman who died in Longford some years back, whose soul, or that of the devil formed the form of a black dog on her death... and walked out the door! Hope that sends a chill up your spines...
"Goddess of Weather" Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 300 ord
A pagan dweels on the moods of the Weather Goddess, and ponders the consequenses of adapting our God, doubting it will solve the drought problem and war in his area, that they may get worse instead of better. There must be a little pagan within me that inspires lines like these!!! :-)
"Some Dream Dreams or Dream of Nothing" Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 200 ord
A three poem collection I hope youll like, the first being on the subject of writers block again. the second wishing away the hours at work, and the third tells of discovering Burns at (maybe appropiate considering his name ) the front of a Sweet Afton cigarette box when I was very very young, which stunned me, and spawned by devotion to the man as a writer.
Tell me what you think, even if it is that you think Im mad!!
Beauty in Bounty Is A Woman Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 200 ord
Hatred in the world will never be defeated unless we all do our little bit to defeat it. We cant change the world, but we can change our little bit of it.
1st Impressions Count: Words From Across the World Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Övrigt, 200 ord
Im sure all will agree with me when I congratulate Scott Savage and all who helped with the creation of this anthology, and having seen the preview on Lulu.com
"Verses on Big Folk and Little Folk" Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 150 ord
What is probably (intentionally! :-)) my worst poem ever, I write in the style of the unfortunate William Topaz Mc Gonagle, and recount the story of his eventful life.
Said to be the worst poet in history, one remarked tongue in cheek "Shakespeare wrote nothing like this!"
You can read his life story on the Wikipedia. He was satirized on the Goon show and by Spike Milligan, among others.
Is there anyone in America like him?
"Christmas Eve 2006" Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 100 ord
Poeple cannot always be smiling, the same as a flower is not always in bloom. This does not make the person horrible, the same as the rose is still a flower. Remember that the next time someone who is normally nice is dour or bites your head off... they are still that lovely person you knew, just not today!
"I Often Think... If God is Islamic" Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 250 ord
Wars of religion will be shown to be stupid if God is none of ours but another instead, and all are gone to Hell for not believing in the right one reguardless of personal virtue. Should that be so, I will rue all my missed chances, and while as Catholic I use Islamic as the "other" faith, it could be replaced by pagan or whatever.
"Silence is Gods Lullaby" Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 150 ord
Slothful I like to sleep as opposed to walk mountains to relax... while I may die from a heart attack, it wont be from climbing a mountain I cant manage!
"The Ballad of Old Clonbroney" Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 350 ord
The story of a man who met a headless horseman when calling on a neighbour after moving into the area. Apperantly this is actually true, the miller he was calling on was an uncle of mine who lived in Clonbroney, where an old road led up to a disused cemetry, and a new road now led to the village. The old road partly made the lane to his house and mill that used to be on the side of the old road, but the road was blocked of at the rear, where both sides had grown in to form one hedgegrow that went up the fiends to the old cemetry.
The poem is to be edited later to make sure the information is correct, but this is the first draft. I hope you all like it, I probably should have published it at Halloween, only for the fact it was not written then!
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The Ballad of Old Clonbroney
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One night dark walking along
A lane onto its end,
A neighbour walked up to a house
To call upon a friend.
"First Ode to Wordsworth" Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 150 ord
*/ Early writings of Wordsworth were libreatarian and reactionary in nature, full of the the joys of life, to which he signed his name "Will Wordsworth".
However, a change in the tone and subject matter arrived in the second period of his life, and on these more socially standard works he wrote his name in the more formal "William Wordsworth", by which we know him today.
This poem is inspired by a "Readers Digest" article from 1970 that explores his work and asks why as to the change in the name and tone of works from Wordsworth.
"Broken Hearts and Broken Dreams..." Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 200 ord
In the dudk/dawn world of half sleep is when I get the ideas to write, but often they are lost before I get to write them down. This is a humerous look at this dilemma!
"Click Click goes the Keyboard" Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 300 ord
Ever notice in life how the bad are good and the good can be bad? This poem explores one aspect of this, and explains Gods enduring grace, which often perplexes man!
"Brave Wallace Lies Neath Weeping Skys" Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 300 ord
Keeping the Scottish theme going with a poem about the sacrifice of Wallace, and lamenting how in freedom should it be obtained, England will still have her claws in Scotland.
A Ghost Sails by Scotlands Isles Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2007 Poesi, 200 ord
Frequent readers of my writings will be familiar with the poems on one muse, the lovely Roberta, who hrough me being faint of heart did not win the fair lady. This is another of the "Stanzas to Ronerta"
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She Who I Loved and Never Did
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Ive not cast my eyes upon her,
For many months and years
And of joy and of pain,
She has caused me no tears,
She who I loved and yet never did,
As I thought it could never be,
She who I may never see again...
I wonder how is she?
Words of a Writer on the Folly of Fools Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 250 ord
Never a fan of paganism or Wiccca, reading Michael Mc Graths work put a new slant on it for me. As a Christian, I never will support it and am skeptical of it, but still...
Listen to Tomas O’ Carthaigh read his poetry! Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Övrigt, 200 ord
No, not a tribute to the band, but a quick few lines to remind people that those who leave themselves open tend to get hurt, and we have inbuilt mechanicanisms against it.
So remeber to close your door to the world, and only open it to those thats good.
Only Now... But Better Late Than Never Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 200 ord
The Roma of the Mitrovica camps are still suffering the
effects of the lead poisoning, and reading through "UNleaded Blood"
by Paul POlansky, I came upon the touching words of a woman
Ferdana, who though she was losing her family slowly, still had
the grace to tell Polansky she worried the reporters and aid
workers who flew in and flew out would suffer from the lead too.
Such compassion for others in the face of such adversity... my
prayer tonight and today is let me have the grace of Ferdana...
What about hose who were really innocent in the Kosovo campaign, my friends the Roma refugees?
Paul Polansky and his charity are still working with them, and little is improving, and UNMIK and UNHCR are doing little as usual, and making a big fuss about the little they are doing.
http://www.PaulPolansky.com
Snakes All Around Us Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 500 ord
Readers of these pages from Ireland will be familiar with Fr Brian Darcys "A Little Bit of Religion" column in the Sunday Word, and Irish sunday newspaper. In the October 1 2006 edition, Fr Brian quotes a tale told by Native American actor Iron Eyes Cody. While he tells it to warn of the dangers of drink and drugs, I feel it can equally apply for those who go into personal or business relationships that are dodgy from the start with their eyes open. In summary, be wary of all who offer false promises be aware of the reality behind them.
Too Many Chocolates Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 250 ord
This poem is inspired by the words of Bono as recounted by Mick Wall in his book "Bono". Bobo was tored of churning out more of the same music, while it was good it still was boring for him. "... we (U2) were growing disillusioned with the pap, the wallpaer (music) and the gloss. Its as if someone has eat too many chocolates ... suddenly they’re beginning to feel ill as they look at all the papers around the room." The lesson I see from this is that over indulgence in life or a part of it, leads us to feel sick of life, or tired of it, and it may be this that leads us to be so unhappy causing our social problems, while those who really have life hard appreciate it when things become good if only for a while, and so are happy and smiling.
Let There Be Joy Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 200 ord
This is a small hymn calloing on people to rejoice in their troubles and in the name of God, as He is there to help us through our troubles. Inspired by a piece on one of those American God channells I’ve got on the sattellite television!!
Is God one or Three? Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 200 ord
This quotation from Frost, while about an ideal template for a poem, struck me as an ideal template for life. Often those despised at birth, die in folly, in youth, thier lives not making a metaphirical poem.
A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom.
- Robert Frost
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Begin in Delight, and End in Wisdom
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To begin in delight and end in wisdom,
Is the aim of every man,
So it was throughout the years
Right from when time began...
Let Hate In My Heart Not Be Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 250 ord
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Of An Angels Grace, Are We Worthy?
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Of an angels grace, are we worthy,
We who bathe in sin
And wallow in the baths of selfishness
Never letting God in
Never admitting God to our hearts,
Where for Himself He made a place
But we block Him from His home,
And in our sin see no disgrace...
In the eyes of Eve was not Evil
But a desire of love for to know,
And the act of Adam was not bad
The act of Love to show.
Nor was the eyes of woman evil
That hold love in their hearts within,
Nor evil are the lusts of men:
Evil are those who call it sin...
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Taken from the website http://www.WritingsInRhyme.com
Feel free to forward, but leave this message intact.
King Bily and the Pope Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 200 ord
For info on the inspiration of t his poem to show the irony of the anti-Catholic usage of the Boyne commemorations (the Pope actually supported King Billy) read the article below which I reproduce from Mark Davenport of the BBC.
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It sits in a side room at the back of the disused Senate Chamber inside Stormont’s Parliament Buildings. The painting depicts King William III’s arrival in Ireland
A monumental canvas apparently depicting the arrival of King William III in Ireland in the 1690s, it was purchased by the old Northern Ireland government back in March 1933. But the controversial work of art was vandalised soon afterwards and has not been on public display for more than 20 years. Now some say the time has come to hang it somewhere more prominent. Buying the picture, thought to be the work of William of Orange’s court artist Pieter van der Muelen, cost the old Stormont government £209 and four shillings. Unionist MPs cheered when they heard of its acquisition. But those cheers gave way to bewilderment when the canvas was unveiled. There in the foreground is a figure which looks like King Billy on his white charger. But floating above him on a cloud is someone who appears to be Pope Innocent XI, apparently blessing his ally as he makes his way towards the Battle of the Boyne. A figure believed to be Pope Innocent XI
appears to bless William III
For those who celebrate the victory of the Protestant King William over the Catholic King James this may be an inconvenient reminder of the facts of 17th century great power politics. But the Ulster Museum’s Keeper of History, Trevor Parkhill, explains that "there is a well documented record that the Pope had a ’Te Deum’ sung in the Vatican on hearing the outcome of the Battle of the Boyne". "As Stalin would have said, they were objective allies in the 1690s against the Sun King Louis XIV who was at that time the most dominant authority in power in Europe," he added. Back in the 1930s some couldn’t stomach that kind of talk. In May 1933 a group of visitors from the Scottish Protestant League were touring Parliament Buildings when they came face to face with King Billy and the Pope. Art attack An enraged Glasgow councillor, Charles Forester, threw red paint over Innocent XI. His companion Mary Ratcliffe slashed the canvas with a knife. Both were
arrested and fined £65 when they appeared in court in Downpatrick. The painting was restored for a cost of £32 and 10 shillings. The authorities at Stormont decided it would be a wise move to shift it to a less exposed spot. Its precise whereabouts inside Parliament Buildings were unknown from 1936 until 1975 when the picture was moved to the Belfast Public Record Office. It went on public display there until 1983 when it was returned to the speaker’s office at Stormont. Art experts dispute whether the painting is the work of Pieter van der Meulen and whether the subject really is King William of Orange. Public display But the attack on the canvas has made it part of Stormont folklore. Damian McCarney, who writes for Daily Ireland and the Andersonstown News recently had a private viewing. In his opinion, "a reproduction of it doesn’t do it justice". "Whenever you first encounter the painting you are awe struck by the size of this epic tale
unfolding in front of you," he said. "So in a visual sense it deserves to be displayed. "But I believe the story behind it will capture the imagination of a lot of people as well. "Here’s a painting which attracted controversy and was attacked for no justifiable reason. "I think a lot of people can respond to that. It has echoes of the sectarian past and now we’re coming to a more tolerant period in history now is the time for it to be restored to its rightful place in the southern corridors of the Stormont assembly."
To Be, Or Not To Be A Bee Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 200 ord
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Calm Be, Though the World Seems Mad
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Calm be, though the world seems mad,
As if on the eve of doom,
In other lands things happen bad,
And war it seems to loom,
It looks so bad as its at our door,
Other times was far away,
It could be ignored before
It cannot be today...
The Apple of Eden Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 100 ord
The banshee, not a scary as shes said to be!
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Crying Spirit of the Night
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The crying in the bight grew faint
As to listen for it I slow,
And there looks to be nothing now
Where there was a woman a while ago.
But then upon again walking
Beneath awindow stands
Crying, as she brushes her hair,
With a comb in age gnarled hands...
What I See Before Me Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 200 ord
Short poem on how our emotions shape how we find situations.
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What I See Before Me
================================What I see before me as I look around,
At where there is nobody and nothing
I see peace, I see heaven, in the tranquility,
As a chorus of songbirds start to sing...
I Cant Remember What I Chose to Forget Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 200 ord
Inspired by the opening lines to a Burns poem "Epistle to a Tailor" (I think!) which are ’what ails you now, you lousy bitches?’...
A classic line, and my favourite piece by Burns. This ode to Burns is inspired by the line and poem.
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What Ails Ye Now? (First Ode to Robert Burns)
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"What ails ye now?" Words from your pen,
When you in the heat of anger basked
And boiled as you in retort wrote
And the lousy bitches you asked:
Those who about others things say,
And down upon who look
Would well be told the story
Of "Throw the First Stone" from the Good Book...
Should I Again Her Smile Not See Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 250 ord
Us men too are suckers for love... ==========================
Should I Again Her Smile Not See
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Should I again her smile not see,
Blessed was I to be,
To have known, and fond have grown,
Oh her and her company.
And though lover we never were,
As much because I was not bold,
Her memory will always be
In my heart, and of be told.
A Thought for Israel Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 200 ord
For those who despair at the musical tastes of our youth... I though only 29 often depair too.
Am I officially getting old?
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Crazed beats echo into the night/
A couple passing shake their heads: say its not right/
Crazy music, adored by crazy kids/
Lets, keep moving... one to the other bids...
Should You An Idea Hold Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 100 ord
I reald a quotation that said "creativity is born of lonliness", and while in times of dark moods indeed creatitivity can be a release... it is not the only time of creativity.
For me, creativity is a celebration of life... a day gone by without a verse written is a bad one for me.
Maybe I am crazy... ?
Check out the redesigned website http://www.WritingsInRhyme.com - the new design should be easier on the eye.
Some unpublished writings will be added in the coming days.
In a Bog of Brown, A Message From God? Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 300 ord
While myself sympathethic to the Palestinian cause, the recent conflict was shown in a new light with recent events: a discovery of a 1000 year old book open at a page asking Gods help agaianst those trying to wipe out Israel...
::: "Book found open
Painstakingly copied in Latin script, it was found open to a page describing Psalm 83, in which God hears complaints of other nations’ attempts to wipe out the name of Israel.
Wallace described the book’s binding and cover as "leather velum, very thick wallet in appearance." It could take months of study just to identify the safest way to pry open the pages without damaging them, he said.
":::
More on http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/07/25/bog-book.html
What do you lot think of this? Am I crazy or is this just too much of a coincidence? Was there really a message from God in an Irish bog?
Once There Dwelt A Scotsman Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 500 ord
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Once There Dwelt A Scotsman
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Once there lived a Scotsman
Whose years nobody knew
Who was seen by all in town
And known by very few.
For men, for loners such as he
Were left that way... alone...
Scorn and pity and indifference
By the townspeople to him was shown.
On Open Hills I Have Walked Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 300 ord
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On Open Hills I Have Walked
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On open hills I have walked
And from their summitts to view I stood
All that nature before me spread
As many others often would.
But I. not looking, often saw,
Only what was physically there,
Not the hopes and dreams and fears,
Of those that there dwelt, and did not care...
To the Recently Deceased Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2003 Poesi, 300 ord
The Angels they are calling, and you, you cannot stay
When the angels of the Lord beckon, we all must obey
Happier you will be, back where you are from
Now is your time, someday mine will come.
And when my day does arrive, and whemn my time is near,
I hope I can face the world without a hint of fear...
Nothing to Write Upon Today. Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 150 ord
Verse lamenting the passive acceptance of partition, the brutalification of the RIRA campaign, and the growing power of larger ststaes over Ireland through the EU.
=================
Lament for Erin, thou art not free/
The Saxon of old has six counties of thee/
Wo to the day, aye, and woe be to the hour/
When your suns surrendered your freedom and unity for their power./
Lament for Erin, and the tears she shed/
Lament for her history, and her patriot dead,/
Lament for the crimes comitted in her name,/
Lament for those who on her cause brought shame./
Jimmy Johnstone Celtic Supporters Club
http://www.JimmyJohnstoneCSC.com
Say hail hail while your passing!
Prime Contact With Another World - Stanza One Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 200 ord
Here is a story in rhyme of earthlings of the future finding a new world.
..............................
On the stars rotation between its fifteen suns/
The interstellar spaceship set its speed,/
And eyes from our world on another one looked down,/
Some with hope, and more with evil greed...
Can I See If I Look in the Distance? Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 250 ord
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A Fool, By Dreams, He Lives His Life
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A fool, by dreams, he lives his life
And wonders why nothing comes true
Little he tries, as his life away he dreams
And he only has lost opportunities to rue...
Gods Love For All Knows No Bounds Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 250 ord
Gods love for all knows no bounds,
Like the universe has no walls,
The greatest sinner, and the greatest saint,
Both, as his sons, he calls.
For he who made them as they are,
Are a reflection of how they are made,
And as so, are a reflection of God himself,
And to be themselves, are not afraid...
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Another poem on faith... see the reworked website at http://www.WritersToYou.com
Sign the guestbook while you are there!
The new book in prepublish status is available from http://www.lulu.com/cartyweb
See "Passing By Our Planet" in the shop area.
Smiling We Cannot Always Be Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 200 ord
Looking into the sunset, I see little
But the death of the day
I today am not a dreamer...
And I cannot think any other way.
For on my mind the day already has ended
And the darkness of the night has begun...
"Natures Great and Natures Kind" and Other Poems Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 400 ord
Calm As The Sea Unstirred By Wind
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Describing emotions during a walk.
Of the End, We Shall Be Spared
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The prophesies of St Malachy predict Ireland will be destroyed 7 years before Armageddon, to spare us the horrors of the Last Day. So when it happens... you got a maximum of 7 years!
We, Ungrateful Sinners, Thank Our Lord
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Poem saying sinners who ackknowledge they are so, truly thank God in prayer, while those who may not sin as much, may not be so sincere in prayer.
This Island Was Walked By Men
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Poem rueing the loss of Irelands true heros, and lamenting the shouts of the charlatans of today.
"City of Ships of the Seven Seas" & Other Poems Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 400 ord
Seeing as everyone else is writing on flowers, Ill join the act. In the most Robert Burns macho type of way of course...
================
It is, the flower, I suppose
That lovers give, called the rose,
Red to pink is its hue,
Some grow in white too...
When God gave love for us to see
This flower, that love was to be,
So when a rose to you is given...
On Scotlands Fair Shores There Are Many Maidens Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 200 ord
We assosiate closed windows with wartmth and good, and a closed mouth as the same, staying out of others business though we know but fail to warn another of something set to befall them.
By speaking you may get grief, and by keeping quiet you get none, but if you get grief, at least you allowed someone to deal with what was coming.
Hence the heat and cold in the poem, and the air is the freedom of conscience after warning those who initially were ungrateful for the warning.
Maybe a little complex... but I hope you all like it anyway.
==========================
Feel free to forward to a friend.
http://www.WritingsInRhyme.com
"I, A Sinner" and other Short Poems of Faith Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 500 ord
A few short verses of faith, that someone somewhere may find helpful in life.
Feel free to forward to friends and family.
Extract from "I, A Sinner"
..........................................
I, a sinner, preach of God
And what of us he asks
And give judgement of clergys guidance
And attempt to do thier tasks
And the word of God himself
I commit the heretic crime
To interprit scripture to you,
And to do so in rhyme.
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Those familiar with the story of Eden will know why snakes slither today... make sure your tongue does not anger God and make him smite you to slither like the snake tomorrow!
Anti War Poems: Soft Touch of the Wind Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 500 ord
Here I include three poems in one article on an anti war theme, describing the nature of war, the horror of war, and a poem on the Roma, over 1000 of which faught in the Wehrmacht before being demobbed, rounded up and gassed.
Soft Touch of the Wind
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Soft Touch of the Wind tells of the enviromment destroyed by war, but how beauty can prevade even in the horror of war.
Flames of Hell Engulf the Dead
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This poem shows how, though decimated, the environment... and also our spirit, survives the horrors of war.
A Thousand Souls Faught for the Fatherland
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They faught for Germany, in Belguim, France and Poland. Then they were demobbed due to their blood and race, rounded up and gassed. Who were they? My old friends, the Roma.
A side of history that has never been told, and the Wehrmacht has never apologised to Romany soldiers.
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I look forward to your comments on the poems, and tell me where they can be improved.
They By Their God In Prayer Kneel Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 200 ord
Our salvation will be a mushroom
Which we should not be near
At the time it reaps its crop on the land
So we should never fear
The ocean on the whiteman
That pours over the plains from Hell
For of the Future Ive had a vision
And this to all I tell...
Latest in the Wild West series, especially for Scott. And no, Ive not been on the mushrooms when I wrote this!
It is a vision, where the Crazy Chief sees the nuclear bomb destroying America, but cannot call it what it is, and so talks of the famous cloud as being a mushroom.
Needless to say, as will be shown in the following poems, he is not heeded by the Braves who think hes really gone off the wall this time...
By the way... for all my American readers... I hope this never happens...
As They Look Down Upon The Land Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 450 ord
Short poem on lovers who’re looked down on because they are from different races. All thats changed it seems is that the chains are gone, the heart itself is in slavery still.
The Gateway of the Dead Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 400 ord
Dublins riots yesterday brings the pont home agin of how Ghandi toppled the empire by peaceful means, and maybe us in Ireland could learn from his example.
Ghandi has always been an Icon for Ireland and the Irish, and this poem is dedicated to our Indian friends on WTY.com
=======================
Feel free to send this to whoever
you like, just leave this notice in it.
(c) Tomas O’ Carthaigh
http://www.WritingsInRhyme.com
http://www.PassingByOurPlanet.pro.ie
=======================
Lord, Guide Us In The Days To Come Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 400 ord
Another poem offering a prayer for guidance from the Lord... A sample from the poem is below:
::: Lord, guide us in the days to come
::: We know not what lies ahead...
::: Wheather we’ll be alive to see
::: Whats to come, or if we’ll be dead...
::: Lord, nudge us when we say whats wrong
::: To each other when we fight,
::: For we may not be alive to try
::: To apologise and put things right...
=======================
Feel free to send this to whoever
you like, just leave this notice in it.
(c) Tomas O’ Carthaigh
http://www.WritingsInRhyme.com
http://www.PassingByOurPlanet.pro.ie
=======================
A Day Like Today Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 200 ord
A thought for today, for those who cant wait to see tomorrow, and also for those who dread to think of another days dawn!
A Day Like Today
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A day like today is many things to many men,
Some cant wait for tomorrow, some dont want to see again,
For some good and some bad, some by paths they did not choose,
Some carved from themselves whether they win or they lose.
God above is our guide, but we realise not he is near,
Because we do not listen, his voice we cannot hear,
God talks in a whisper, lost in a crowd,
If we refuse to listen: why should he shout loud?
=======================
Feel free to send this to whoever
you like, just leave this notice in it.
(c) Tomas O’ Carthaigh
www.WritingsInRhyme.com
www.PassingByOurPlanet.pro.ie
=======================
The Singing Bird Gives Thanks Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 200 ord
At the moment, I work in security, and I noticed birds singing at midnight and two and three in the moring.
Is it the lights of our 24/7 world keep them awake, or are they imbibing the spilled pools of liquer from broken bottles and litereally "singing" the night away?
A Voice That Cuts through Time Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Anna Lindh, 300 ord
He who calls the Lords name
In a silent vocal prayer
In trust of God that He listens
To all no matter where…
Have faith in God is the basic message of this piece. Reguardless of the structure of your belief, God looks on all as his children, or his sheep, as it is put in the Bible.
Sometimes he will not answer our prayers, as it can be for our better good, as excelently protrayed in the Garth Brooks song "Sometimes I Thank God For Unanswered Prayers".
A Cry, Silent In The Night Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 200 ord
Regulars will know of my poetry on the Roma, and this is the latest of that genre.
Paul Polansky works with Roma refugees in Mitrovica, Kosov, and previosly in Nis, Serbia and the Czech Republic, where he uncovered and highlighted the Lety concentration camp.
To me, he has been an inspiration, and on Christmas Day, he and Lubo Zubak visited my humble flat, where we talked of his work, poetry in general, and everything else in life.
This poem is about that surreal day, and I urge everyone to give him as much support as you can, especially in publicity for the work he does, that the UN should be doing.
And There, On A Place Called Calvary Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 250 ord
All beware, though you do not see God, he sees you, though he does not help you directly, he sees when you flounder because you fail to try.
Those who’ve lost faith but have tried can take heart that God has seen that, and though great is your sin, when great is your sorrow and attept to do right by yourself, you will benefit from the grace of the Unseen but Merciful God.
First fire and Brimstone sermon from me for 2006. Repent ye sinners or God will format your hard disks! >:->
A Gift From God Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 200 ord
Nouvelle année heureuse à tous aux auteurs à toi. C’est ma première traduction de mes poésies à une autre langue. Si vous pourriez me dire des erreurs et les éditer, je des crédits d’inclide de volonté pour mêmes en publications officielles.
Can a Hand Outstretched be Trusted? Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2006 Poesi, 200 ord
Another gloomy but optimistic poem designd to raise the national spirit...
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Ireland, is it but a Notion?
Ireland... is it but a notion
Of a land that never was...
But in the dreams of our dreamers...
Who had those dreams because...
The reality of no land
Was for them too much to bear...
And so where there was no land...
They imagined one for themselves there...
The Beauty of the Bar Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 300 ord
Those who follow this site will know my writings on the Roma in general and the Kosovo situation in particular.
I am glad to report that Amnesty International has been aware of the case, and has been running a small scale capaign on it over the past few months.
Paul Polansky of KRRF had a news conference in Berlin about the topic, and his documentary about the crisi won a film contest in Skopje, Macedonia recently too.
If you could, forward this on to your local senator, MP, be you in India, Ireland, America, UK or wherever, and ask them to campaign to get the camps moved.
My minisite on http://www.KosovoRoma.now.nu has a petition you can sign for the camps to be moved to a safer location: head on over and sign it please!
A Cry for Help Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 100 ord
I nearly choked yesterday when watching Bush on telly on a programme about the middle east peace process. He told Abbas of Palestine, there would be a Palestinian state, because God said to him "George, there should be a Palestinian state".
He got rid of Iraq
The Hopeful Arrival Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 400 ord
A stranger rides to town on horseback, olny to find everyone dead. Hes spent all his money getting there and cant afford to go back. Hes now isolated in the big bad world, things can only go up from here...
Another poem from the Wild West series. Hope you enjoy it Scott!
Amnesty my Arse! Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 300 ord
I was at an Amnesty Ireland march about environmental activists in Mexico, and the conversation after made strange hearing... its OK to worry about Mexico, but they were not really interested in Kosovo Roma, refugees should not be let in, etc., etc.
I hasten to add that this was the minority, but it still showed the movement in a strange light.
Charity begins at home, Kosovo is our Mexico.
Sorry for the profanity in the name and the poem!
God and Satan are Planters in Your Garden Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 350 ord
Poem asking is our wonder of aliens normal, and did the red indians of times past before the whiteman wonder would anything come from the east from where there seemed to be no life or land?
It needs working on, but this is the draft form.
Paths Crossed by Fate Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 200 ord
Fight for right not for profit, is a maxim America neverlives up to. Another political rant in rhyme... maybe it’ll scare GWB into doing Gods will - or is that just too much to hope for?
Walking Home At Midnight Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 200 ord
A Greek inspired tale of how the moon keeps eyes on the oceans to stop them quenching the sun at night time, thereby saving life on earth from the enemy, the Cold.
A little poetic fantasy.
The Shadowy Door Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 200 ord
An analogy is drawn between those who poke their nose into other peoples lives giving false advice, and a passer by seeing a empty shadowed doorway hed love to look inside. Unknown to him, a cripple watches, who’d love to walk like him and share his world.
Sorry if its a little cryptic, it needs a workover.
The Circle of Time Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 250 ord
Ever felt you were guided, as if by a departed family member, or guardian angel? Ever had a sense you were a place before - felt eerily at home or warmed to someone for no good reason?
While we deny all things supernatural, what is more superstitious than our belief in Heavan and Hell, the blind faith that is the core of our most basic beliefs and morals?
"Piseog" is a Irish Gaelic term for superstition or false belief.
Noble Horse Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 300 ord
The next poem in my Wild West series of poems, tells of a man shot, suspected by the outlaw called "The Deputy", and the posse that are put together to chase him...
A Fable for Fellows Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 350 ord
The next rhymic shot over the bow from the male camp, led by Captain O’ Carthaigh... as he rallys his merry men in the Trafalgar of the Sexes!
And... as we wait for Michelles Amelias dealdy rhymic reply, we keep our head low to doge the plates, mugs, knives and kitchen sinks of rhyme shes going to throw at us and put us in our place!
Whose World Is It Anyway? Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 300 ord
Short poem on the hypocricy of religions that side with imperialsit states, preach one thing, and bless the process of doing the opposite.
The one example in the piece is how Irelands Catholic bishops blessed the Blueshirt column sialing to Spain to fight for Franco in the Spanish Civil War.
Do not steal...
Do not kill...
Love thy neighbour...
Until we tell you otherwise!
The Lost Raindancer Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 250 ord
Enduring another rainshower, I came across the mad notion that we must have a Native American raindancer lost in Ireland who is blind and cannot see the rain... madly dancing so that we’ll get more!
I need to get out more... what do you lot think?
Rainy Street in Glasgow Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 500 ord
Poem telling of visisting Glasgow the night of Celtic taking the 2004 title by beating Kilmarnock, where the Kilmarnock fans were well behaved, and one lone Celtic fan stood shouting insults... telling Huns to go home....
Hun is a deragatory term for a Scot or Englishman... they were at home... he, my fellow Irishman was the foriegor.
Often these so called ’republicans’ vote for the most moderate party of all Fine Gael, who do not believe in Irish reunification at all, but attact a lot of right wing bigots, bieng the motherparty of the old Blueshirt movement.
What Will It Take? Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 300 ord
With a mind on Iraq, where America expands its Middle East economic empire by toppling regimes without allowing the locals to benefit, I write this poem.
When the good guys are as currupt as NATO, and the only ones who win as their asslikers and the corporations, it is no wonder people stand with such feriosity behind despot regimes.
In Serbia, America, Farnce and the UK invaded Kosovo to prevent ethnic clensing - the practice that allowed them empires and killed off nations from the American Natives to the Cornish, Welsh, Breton and Irish.
They just gave it another name: plantation and colonisation.
Robert Service was one of my lifes inspirations, and a selection of my poetry has been written in his style.
My first poem "Dance of the Redman" is from this series, and this poem tells of an outlaw who once was deputy to the Sheriff, fell foul of the law and ended up on the run.
I hope you all like it, and its not too long. A few more (longer by far!) will be posted online in the coming weeks.
Keep your eyes peeled: bandits and outlaws and crazy injuns will soon inhabit these pages!!!!
A fire and brimstone call to arms for the Irish to unite and fight to get the UK from our country.
A call for a real army... no balaclavas, and under the treaty of 1922, the Irish government cannot act on behalf of the irish in Ulster, which is why the British Army is up there.
The current Good Friday Agreement copper fastens partition, and the ironic thing is that a better proposal of a 9 county All Ulster plebcite was offered by PIRA leadership in the late 1970’s, and the UK were interested, but Adams and Magennis and Co shot it down and forced a change of leadership in the early 80’s.
Fiftenn more years of war later... and they got even less!
Writers Block Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 300 ord
Suffering writers block once agin, I decided to put it into rhyme. Hopefully the brain will start working again soon.
Judging by the slowness of the site in new works Im not alone!
A Time for Surprises Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 200 ord
I have just returned home from Serbia, where I have spent an enjoyable week among friends with whom I’ve worked.
Most are veterans of the three Yugoslav wars, and the area they are in is 70% Serb, and 30% others.
Romania, Croatia and Hungary are all sponsoring sepretest activity among local minorities, and its shaping up to be a very bloody war if conflict does start.
I hope God looks down and guides these people and sees them through these troubled times.
The Sleeping Beauty and the Sorry Prince Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 300 ord
As we wonder why the world changes, and can we cope, this poem advises yet again to turn our thoughts and prayers to God himself, who will not see us wrong.
Taken from the sequel to the book "Writings in Rhyme", which will be published in time for the Christmas market.
My new website www.writingsinrhyme.com is also live - check it out and sign my new guest book.
God bless you all.
The Nazi Pope Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 200 ord
In this election year in the UK, the Roma are the hot topic, with both the Labour and Concervative parties brining in containment laws and using propaganda against Gypsies in a similar fashion to the anti-gypsy legislation in prewar Wiemar Germany.
To solve the crises while in power, the progressive Tory leader John Major - who laid the foundation for the peace process in Ireland with the Downling Street Declaration - suggested buying the land for their camps, holding in in common, and moving to their own purpose built sites.
However, as the poem tells. this was refused, and the Roma face a very scary and all to familiar situation.
In a Europe where borders are opened to let all travel freely, those who travel for a living find they are the only ones who cannot.
Rynaghs Church Bell Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2003 Poesi, 200 ord
Pope John Paul died today, and in his memory this poem was written, making a play on his love of soccer to save our souls from the temptations in life (the pitch).
In reality, its up to us to save our own souls.
Say a prayer for his soul anyway.
The One Man Circus Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2000 Poesi, 400 ord
Poem on the difficulty in writing poetry, inspired by Yeats’ writings where he complained that ’circus animals’ ie: inspirations for writings, would not dance for him.
Affected the same way, I pondered should I write on the more simpler pieces, and then I may not find it as difficult to write.
Have others been there?
Tell Them In Sparta Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2000 Poesi, 300 ord
Yeats was an inspiration to the author, and this poem dwells on his unrequited love with the beautiful Maud Gonne, who he lost to the revolutionary Sean Mc Bride.
It asks, was his private loss a nations gain in that it inspired such beautiful poetry.
For those unaware of Yeats, Gonne and Mc Bride, Yeats was an Irish poet, Mc Bride a revolutionary, who took differing sides in the Irish Civil War of 1922, and Yeats muse, a radical herself, sided with her lover, Mc Bride.
The Swastika on the Stone Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 300 ord
This poem was inspired by the tale told in a poem of Paul Polanskys book "Sarahs People".
The book features stories of the Roma cleaning up a cemetry in Nis, in Serbia, where they are camped.
The poem told of one kid, who was caught drawing, of all things - a swastika on a gravestone of the Jewish cemetry.
He was admonished: and replied that he did not know of the history of the attempted extermination of his people by the Nazis.
He just saw some skins draw it on a wall.
He, like most of the Roma youth born since the fall of Communism, is illiterate, and ignorant of the history of his people, and this poem aims to draw attention to that.
It is the last in a series of three poems written on the Roma, the other two published here are "The Gas Van" about the holocaust itself, and "The Roma", about the attitude and lifetyle of the Roma people.
All are in my new book "Writings in Rhyme".
The Banshee Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 1000 ord
The real Irish banshee is a small old woman, combing her hair while "keening" for a soul about to depart to the afterlife.
It is not the sceptre of the movies.
This poem is about one who sees the banshee, and asks and ponders on her origions, exploring each, and yet failing to come to a conclusion.
The belief in Ireland is / was that the Banshee followed certian families of noble blood: that is of the old Gaelic Cheiftans, but only of the major clans.
The Gas Van Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 300 ord
This is the second of a series of three poems on the Roma, and tells the sory of mobile gas chambers that were used against Roma and Gypsy in some of the smaller concentration camps in World War 2, and before.
Nazi collaborator regimes such as the Arrowcrossmen of Hungary, Vichy France, Slovakia, Coatia, etc., sent Roma to these camps for extermination.
The next and last poem tells of the Roma today, and will be published soon.
All are taken from my new book "Writings in Rhyme", of which Version 0.35 of the First Edition is now lonline at http://www.lulu.com/cartyweb for purchase.
Thanks to all for your kind comments: and be sure to raise these issues with your congressman or MP or TD about the plight of these forgotton people.
Poem from the series of poems on Native American Indians which I have written, which addresses the experience of the native american through their own eyes.
The poetry and recitations of Robert Service such as the Dan Mc Grew stories and suchlike are the inspiration behind this series, which will be published here in the coming weeks.
Trust in God Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2005 Poesi, 150 ord
When we lose someone or something... we often ask as to why... and what sort of a God lets this happen.
A parallell is drawn with a flower strewn garden at autumn time, where the flowers are dying to the dismay of the gardner who is but human, and cannot understand why those of beauty die, while the ugly weeds are always in flower.
Read the poem and say what you think.
The Puppetteer Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2003 Poesi, 438 ord
Short verse urging us to see things through others eyes, to see beyond our prejeduces. This can be applied to life as well as the art that provides the verses subject.
Non Plus Ultra Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 1994 Poesi, 250 ord
When the White Man beieved that the world was flat, it was a safer place for the Red Man. When the White Man found out that there was life and a world beyond the horizon, his knowledge brought death, mayhem and near extinction to an ancient race.
Simple sonnett on viewing a bird through a window, on pondering why the bird, while welcoming the breadcrumbs thrown by man, always flies when man draws near.
A Rhyme about Poetry Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 1999 Poesi, 50 ord
Objective look at the beauty of a flame: and asking the question is the dancing flame really subject to the breeze, as opposed to a dancer in its own right?
Polish Joke about Cows in Trees and Flying Hammers Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2004 Humor och Satir, 200 ord
The author contemplates the future of his work and success, and what inspiration he will rpovide to the world and future writers on viewing pictures of past poets with their writings on the walls of the Muses Cafe in Easons of O’Connell St, Dublin
The Pearly Gates Tomás Ó Cárthaigh, 2002 Poesi, 600 ord
After watching a documentary of the television about slavery, as a tribute to the endurance of the slaves, and to the slaves themselves, this poem was written.
The poem is writen from the viewpoint of the slave, in this case a woman who dreams of having a child as a master, who would be easy to look after, a comapritive life of luxury.
The horses eyes illustrates how low a person is brought to when subjected to slavery, and why it should not be allowed to happen again in the civilised world.
We have to remember that slavery is still current in West Africa, and we as nations of the developed world should do all we can to stamp it out.
Locally at home, the personal services industry has trapped many vunerable young women in the trade, and all must be dome to free them from this hell.
