Many thanks to Chris Lane for sharing this poem with us -- [CJ]

Jeremiah O Donovan (Rossa), 1831-1915, founder of The Phoenix National and Literary Society, and later promoter of Fenian Societal values,

Herein is represented as .A son of Carraig an Gréine. And " The Phoenix."

To learn his native language,

Nor wrote, nor read it, had he previously,

Through the ear, it came-easily.

In a past eviction from An Rós-Mór     ..........(The big woods) town land area

His family had come. Now in Carraig an Gréine     ..........(The sunny rock) town land area

On the farm, were nurtured history, lore and fame!

Memories- that forever would remain.

Now a deathly shadow came

A low creeping fog.

And in its wake each peasants face

Became half crossed.

Nor any ebbing tide or forceful southwest wind

Could carry away, what was to remain!

A rotten reeking air.

And woven shawls

To a patchwork quilt inwrought

Laid silent on the ground.

An Gorta Mór gashed deep     ..........(The Great famine)

Nor spared emotion,

Lost were loves, their lives,

Less were heard their words.

Still avidly collected, were

All due rents and taxes

By the hand of the landed gentry

As the great hunger ascended.

Again eviction came

For the son of Carraig an Gréine.     ..........(The sunny rock) town land area

Whose family in a trail of retreat

Moved southwards by the sea.

In famed Rós Ailithir     ..........(Rosscarbery)

Did then abide,

Close by- its monastery.

Sadly! Many unfortunate others,

Dispossessed as itinerant wanders-

Made voyages on coffin ships keels.     ..........(Coffin ship, Peasant export ship)

Enwomb of recent woes

Fed the roots of deep emotion,

Between the shadows and the ash

A Phoenix - in the rising.

Bright red, yellow and orange a- flame,

Glossed green with bracken woven.

Radiant was its flare

In near by Skibbereen.

Harked murmured words in far off courts

Unseen in hidden chambers.

Fear upon the hand, that in a silk glove trembled.

With hand in glove, gripped with fear!

The trapper caught its Phoenix

And weary creaked, oil-less hinges at the closing of the cage.

For there upon the floor, a smoldering Fenian lay.

In their company, in their keeping

Cold gray walls, damp in weeping

And " Job" himself came, as a close companion.

Slowly ran the sands of time, The Hourglass in slow motion.

Every breath rose as a prayer

Each falling stirred the ashes

Sad and low- the proud and Nobel Phoenix.

Alas! Stale was the bread that with water washed away,

And fresh- unbroken in the minds preening

The feathers glossiness- gleamed daily.

As a clearing in the throat,

Less trembled the gloved hand,

"O Pardon, -choose an ex- colony, be gone".

Tired was the chain, the anchor it up- hauled,

Salty were the drops that fell, from its weary eye.

Lonely was the moment, the land it slipped away,

The keel did shudder the props drove on

For the shores of America.

Under the Stars and stripes

His work was never ending.

Nor any genocidal absolution

From this unrepentant Fenian was given.

A bellows blew the Phoenix flew!

If flew to immortality.

By Carraig an Gréine, an evening walk, I'm taking,    ..........(The Sunny rock) town land area.

Settled has the long days dust

Shadows now nigh done,

And all is framed-like an heirloom photo frozen.

After a moments silence

Came a songbirds cheer,

The cheer, it rose

It swirled in prose,

Upwards, higher and higher!

The Sun's set, with

A lone ray still peering.

Carrig-fadda is silent     ..........(Rock of measure) Mountain like rock. Prominent landmark.

Stately in forbearance.     ..........Adjoins (Carraig an Gréine) town land area.